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Purple Martin
Photos by Bruce
Dayton
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ORDER:
Passeriformes
FAMILY:
Hirundinidae (Swallows - 8 Species)
SPECIES:
Purple Martin
(Progne subis)
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Purple Martin |
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The Purple Martin almost exclusively nest in Martin houses in eastern North America, while those in the west use natural cavities such as old woodpecker holes. These "aerial acrobats" have speed and agility in flight, and when approaching their housing, will dive from the sky with their wings tucked at great speeds. |
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SIZE |
The Purple Martinis the largest (7-8”) North American swallow. |
| DESCRIPTION | Adult males are a glossy purple-black, and adult
females have some purple on the back with whitish underparts with gray
breast band.
Adults have a large head, thick chest and a slightly forked tail. |
| NESTING | Clutch size ranges from 4-6 eggs, which are incubated in 15 to 18 days. They nest communally at martin houses. They are dependent on humans for nest sites. |
| RANGE | Their breeding range is open areas across eastern North America. The Purple Martin migrates to the Amazon basin in winter. |
| HABITAT | This species habitats residential and agricultural areas, where ever Martin Houses are located. |
| DIET | Purple Martins are aerial insectivores, meaning that they catch insects from the air. The birds are agile hunters and eat a variety of winged insects. Because of the flying height they eat very few mosquitoes. |
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| Purple Martin | |
| Montezuma
National Wildlife Refuge Seneca County, New York |
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| PurM_258B_034822 | PurM_258B_036703 |
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| PurM_258B_036570 | |
| Montezuma
National Wildlife Refuge Seneca County, New York |
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| PurM_258B_054095 | PurM_258B_054104 |
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| Purple
Martins Drawing by Louis Agassiz Fuertes |
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| INTERESTING FACTS |
| Invertebrates |
| Any animal that lacks a vertebral column, or backbone. Invertebrates make up about 98% of all the animal species in the world. They includes all animal except vertebrates (amphibians, fish, birds, reptiles, and mammals). |
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Please email with any ideas or comments concerning this web page. |
| The images on this web page are copyrighted © 2003 - 2007 by Bruce Dayton. I want to share my photos to promote conservation and to help people identify and learn about the birds and other creatures that live with us on the North American continent. Please do not use any of my work in any non-profit or for-profit project without first getting written permission from me. You can ask for permission by emailing me at webmaster@wildlifeofnorthamerica.info. All reproductions must bear an appropriate credit. |
NOTE: This site will be updated as time and pictures become available.
Visit Mammals of North America
Purple Martin
( Progne subis )
Update 10-23-2008
