Purple Martin in August
Where purple martins are in August, whether they are nesting, and the best foods to offer right now.
August in the Purple Martin's year
August feels like summer but the year has turned. Southbound migration is quietly underway, many adults are molting into fresh plumage, and family groups are breaking up. Late nesters are still feeding young in the North while southern birds are already drifting toward wintering grounds.
For the Purple Martin specifically, August is a summer month of relative routine, with the species settled into its seasonal pattern across its range. Across the 47 states and provinces where purple martins occur, what the bird is doing this month depends heavily on latitude — the details below break it down by band.
Where purple martins are in August
- Southern states
- absent
- Mid-latitudes
- summer breeder
- Northern states & Canada
- absent
In August, purple martins are absent in the South, summer breeder across the mid-latitudes, and absent in the northern states and Canada. That north–south split is the defining feature of this month: where you live changes which version of this bird you're looking at.
Nesting in August
Purple martins are not nesting in August. The season runs May–July at mid-latitudes, and up to a month later in the North.
That makes August a useful month for nest-box work: cleaning out old nesting material, checking mounts and predator guards, and making repairs while boxes are empty. A box that's ready early gets claimed early.
What to feed in August
- Dragonflies, flies, beetles and moths
- Flying ants and wasps
Purple Martins do not use feeders. Supporting them means supplying correctly built colony housing in the open and managing House Sparrows and starlings.
Molting birds look scruffy and often skulk — don't be surprised if familiar visitors briefly vanish. Keep water fresh in the heat.
Watching purple martins this month
Purple martins are settled and predictable in August, which makes this a good month to learn the bird's routine — same feeders, same perches, same times of day.
If you have a Purple Martin box up, this is the month to make sure it's clean, secure and ready — the box guide below has the exact hole size and mounting height this species needs.
Purple Martin month by month
Purple Martin by state
Frequently asked
Where are purple martins in August?
In August, purple martins are absent in the South, summer breeder across mid-latitudes and absent in the North.
Do purple martins nest in August?
No — purple martins typically nest May through July at mid-latitudes.
What do purple martins eat in August?
Dragonflies, flies, beetles and moths; Flying ants and wasps.
Sources
- Purple Martin — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Purple Martin life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Purple Martin — Audubon Guide to North American Birds
- Purple Martin Conservation Association — housing guidelines
Timing reflects typical patterns for the region as a whole; local dates vary with elevation and year. Check the linked eBird bar charts for your county.