Purple Martin in March
Where purple martins are in March, whether they are nesting, and the best foods to offer right now.
March in the Purple Martin's year
March is a month of transition. Winter visitors begin drifting north, the first spring migrants appear in the South, and resident birds are in full song. Weather swings hard — a warm week can push migration early, and a late blizzard can catch migrants short of food.
For the Purple Martin specifically, March is a spring 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 March
- Southern states
- absent
- Mid-latitudes
- mostly absent (migration only)
- Northern states & Canada
- absent
In March, purple martins are absent in the South, mostly absent (migration only) 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 March
Purple martins are not nesting in March. The season runs May–July at mid-latitudes.
That makes March 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 March
- Winters in South America — none in North America
Purple Martins do not use feeders. Supporting them means supplying correctly built colony housing in the open and managing House Sparrows and starlings.
Migration brings new faces to feeders. Keep seed fresh and watch for birds passing through that you won't see again until fall.
Watching purple martins this month
Purple martins are settled and predictable in March, 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 March?
In March, purple martins are absent in the South, mostly absent (migration only) across mid-latitudes and absent in the North.
Do purple martins nest in March?
No — purple martins typically nest May through July at mid-latitudes.
What do purple martins eat in March?
Winters in South America — none in North America.
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.