# Purple Martin (*Progne subis*) The Purple Martin is a beautiful bird with shiny purple feathers. They love to eat insects and can often be seen flying high in the sky. These birds are friendly and enjoy living near people. - **Category:** [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/bird) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 47 - **Habitat:** Urban areas - **Also known as:** Martin, Puma ![Purple Martin](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/PurpleMartin_cajay.jpg&width=800) Photo: JJ Cadiz, Cajay, CC BY 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:PurpleMartin_cajay.jpg) ## Appearance The Purple Martin is a large, sleek swallow with pointed wings and a forked tail. Males are entirely glossy, iridescent deep blue-purple, appearing black in dim light. Females and young birds have duller, greyish-white undersides, making them distinct from other swallows. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Aves - **Order:** Passeriformes - **Family:** Hirundinidae - **Genus:** Progne ## Interesting facts - Purple Martins eat up to 2,000 flying insects every single day! - Some martins travel over 10,000 miles each year during migration! - These birds can drink water mid-flight by skimming the surface of lakes! - They are the only North American bird that relies almost entirely on human-provided homes! ## Special abilities - **Aerial Insect Hunter:** Purple Martins can catch flying insects mid-air because of their agile flight and wide gape, helping them get food. - **Colony Nester:** Purple Martins have a strong social instinct that helps them live together in large groups, often in human-made birdhouses. - **Long-Distance Migrator:** Purple Martins can fly thousands of kilometers between continents because of their strong wings and endurance, avoiding cold winters. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 17-20 cm - **Wingspan:** 39-41 cm - **Weight:** 0.045-0.06 kg - **Lifespan:** 5-7 years - **Speed:** 64 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 4-7 - **Incubation:** 15-18 days - **Migration Distance:** 7000 km ## Diet & Feeding These birds are expert aerial hunters, catching flying insects like dragonflies and wasps mid-air. - **Primary Foods:** Dragonflies, Butterflies, Flies, Beetles, Wasps, Moths - **Foraging Method:** Pursuit ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Cooper's Hawk](https://www.snappit.app/explore/cooper-s-hawk) (*Accipiter cooperii*) — Juvenile martins are sometimes prey for these swift raptors. - **Hunts:** Green Darner (*Anax junius*) — Purple Martins actively pursue and catch these large dragonflies. - **Eaten by:** Purple Martin Bug (*Oeciacus vicarius*) — These parasitic bugs feed on the blood of martins, especially nestlings. - **Depends on:** [Human](https://www.snappit.app/explore/human) (*Homo sapiens*) — Eastern populations rely almost entirely on human-provided housing. ## Traits - [Feathered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/feathered): Feathered describes animals, primarily birds, possessing a covering of feathers. - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Insectivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/insectivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet primarily consists of insects and other small invertebrates. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Speedster](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/speedster): This trait identifies organisms that exhibit exceptional swiftness in movement for hunting, escape, or travel. - [Migratory](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/migratory): Migratory animals undertake seasonal movements from one region to another, typically in response to changes in climate or food availability. - [Urban Friendly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/urban-friendly): This habitat trait indicates species that can coexist with humans in urban and suburban environments, utilizing man-made structures and green spaces. ## Collections - [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/birds) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Watch these birds from a distance and don't disturb their nests. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Purple Martin? Compare the silhouette, bill shape, tail length, wing bars and markings around the eyes. The same small brown bird at your feeder can look quite different in breeding plumage, winter plumage or its first year. Bird Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Purple Martin? 17-20 cm ### What is Purple Martin's wingspan? 39-41 cm ### How much does Purple Martin weigh? 0.045-0.06 kg ### How long does Purple Martin live? 5-7 years ### How fast can Purple Martin move? 64 km/h ### What does Purple Martin eat? These birds are expert aerial hunters, catching flying insects like dragonflies and wasps mid-air. ### Where is Purple Martin usually found? Urban areas ## Where to spot - [Compo–Owenoke Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/compo-owenoke-historic-district) — US · Historic District - [Hickory Hill Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/hickory-hill-park) — Iowa, US · Nature Reserve - [High Trestle Trail](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/high-trestle-trail) — Iowa, US · Trail - [Jackson Street Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/jackson-street-historic-district) — Louisiana, US · Historic District - [Kennebunkport Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/kennebunkport-historic-district) — Maine, US · Historic District - [Plant Collections Network](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/plant-collections-network) — Pennsylvania, US · Botanical Garden [View all places to see Purple Martin](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/purple-martin) ## More Birds - [Black-crowned Night Heron](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-crowned-night-heron) (*Nycticorax nycticorax*) - [Anna's Hummingbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/annas-hummingbird) (*Calypte anna*) - [Great Egret](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-egret) (*Ardea alba*) - [Blue Jay](https://www.snappit.app/explore/blue-jay) (*Cyanocitta cristata*) --- Source: [Purple Martin: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/purple-martin)