Purple Martin 2026

(C) Laura Jackson

The Purple Martin (Progne subis) is a member of the swallow family and in North America, is the largest of the swallows averaging 7.5 inches in length with a wing span of 15 inches. Purple Martins, require two years for a complete molt into adult plumage. Males become entirely dark, glossy, purple-black while females have purple-black on their head and back with a paler streaked breast. Purple Martins are aerial insectivores catching insects in flight with short, wide bills that scoop up insect prey on the wing. Contrary to popular belief they do not feed on lots of mosquitoes. Instead, they feed on dragonflies, moths, butterflies, beetles, wasps, and other insects. Studies have shown that Purple Martins consume about 262 billion insects each year; many are agricultural or human pests. The preferred habit for Purple Martins includes open areas near water, meadows, fields and farmland in close proximity to human habitation. In North America, there are three distinct subspecies including the eastern subspecies Progne subis subis, which ranges from Florida to southern parts of Canada. They winter in South America, primarily Brazil.

Eastern Purple Martins are reliant on human-supplied housing in the form of colonial nesting boxes or gourds placed in large. Purple Martins have developed a behavioral shift learning that living near humans is beneficial and the colony housing provides more opportunity for males to mate with more than one female increasing the number of young and genetic diversity.

(C) Jeanette Green

In Pennsylvania, as in their entire eastern breeding range, populations are currently considered stable but only because of the continued management of colonies by volunteers. And yet, they are declining. These declines can be partially attributed to habitat loss and competition with non-native, invasive species like the House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) and European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) for nesting cavities.

References:

Purple Martin Conservation Association:

Stokes, Lillian, Donald J. Stokes, Justin L. Brown. 1997. Little Brown and Co.

Tautin, J. B. Cousens, K. Kostka, S. Kostka, and D.A. Airola. Regional Declines in

Purple Martin Populations. Proceedings of the Fourth International

Partners in Flight Conference: Tundra to Tropics 82–87

(Mary Alice Koeneke)