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The purple martin (Progne subis) is a passerine bird in the swallow family Hirundinidae. It is the largest swallow in North America. Despite its name, the purple martin is not truly purple.
In eastern North America during the summer, look for Purple Martins around martin houses, the miniature condominiums that many people put up in yards. The birds are more challenging to find in the West, where they nest in woodpecker holes in dead snags.
Graceful in flight, musical in its pre-dawn singing, this big swallow is one of our most popular birds. Almost all Purple Martins in the east now nest in birdhouses put up especially for them.
Large and long-bodied with a small head and bill. Females/immatures are duller, with variable amounts of gray on the head and chest and a dingy lower belly with variable amounts of speckling. A Purple Martin's dark body, long wings, and notched tail are all easily visible in flight.
Large, dark swallow. Distinctive north of Mexico, where it is the largest swallow. Adult males are dark overall with a purplish-blue iridescence visible at close range. Females are grayer with iridescence on the crown and back, and variable splotchy patterning on the underparts.
Learn about the purple martin, the largest swallow in North America, and its identification, voice, status, and distribution. Find out how this bird nests in artificial structures and migrates to South America.
At a Glance. Scientific Name:Progne subis. Population: 7 million. Trend: Decreasing. Habitat: Breeds in Canada, the U.S., and Mexico; winters in South America. The Purple Martin, North America's largest swallow, is a swift and skilled flyer: The birds eat, drink, and even bathe on the wing.
