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Manatee County

Audubon Society

Purple Martin

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Name

Purple Martin

Scientific Name

(Progne subis)

Why they are special:
  • The largest swallow in North America and a beloved migratory songbird.

  • Known for nesting in colonies in artificial martin houses in Florida, including Manatee County.
Size and color:
  • Medium swallow, about 7–8 inches long with a wingspan of 13–15 inches.

  • Adult males are glossy dark purple-blue, almost black in some lights; females are duller with gray underparts.
Seasonality in Florida:
  • Spring and summer resident, arriving March–April and leaving August–September for South America.
Habitat:
  • Open fields, wetlands, and suburban areas with access to nesting cavities or martin houses.

  • Colonies are often established near water, providing abundant flying insects.
Diet:
  • Aerial insectivores, feeding on dragonflies, wasps, beetles, and flying ants.

  • Feed entirely on the wing.
Behavior:
  • Highly social, nesting in large colonies.

  • Perform acrobatic flights while hunting insects and calling to neighbors.
Conservation notes:
  • Populations have declined in many regions due to loss of natural cavities and competition from invasive species like European Starlings and House Sparrows.

  • In eastern North America, martins are now entirely dependent on human-provided housing, making stewardship of martin houses and gourds vital for their survival.

  • Pesticide use and large-scale declines in aerial insect populations may also impact food availability.

Best time to see:
  • Spring through summer, especially near martin houses in Manatee County.
Fun Fact:
  • Purple Martins are almost entirely dependent on humans in the eastern U.S., nesting in artificial birdhouses rather than natural cavities!
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