Purple Martins
If there was a ten most wanted list for birds, Purple Martins would be on it. Over a million people in North America put up Martin houses in hopes of attracting a colony. If only it were so easy. Purple Martins are picky house hunters. If the house isn't perfect or the neighborhood not up to their specifications, they will look elsewhere.
The Purple Martin
Description
Purple Martins
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Purple Martins
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White martin houses are more likely to attract Purple Martins than houses painted in another color. The white reflects the heat of the sun keeping the nestlings cooler.
Range
Martin Houses
Home Sweet Home
Mating and Nesting
Purple Martins are monogamous. The male and female build the nest out of mud, grass and twigs. The female lays one egg a day for two to seven days. She incubates the eggs for approximately 15 days. Both the male and the female work together to feed the young until the fledge 26 to 32 days after hatching. The young will stay close to their parents for another couple of weeks as they learn to hunt. The most common reason for Purple Martins to abandon a colony site is predation. An owl or hawk can wipe out a colony in a matter of days. One raid and the surviving birds will flee.
Location! Location! Location!
Purple Martins are one of the few birds dependent of man-made nesting sites. Unless the situation changes drastically, the same martin house will be used by the group year after year.They are particular. The house has to be out in the open, and at least 30 feet from human habitation. If there are trees nearby that are taller than the house, the flock will look for other habitation. Nor can there be vines or bushes growing around the base of the stand.
Another major requirement is water. The martins will look for a reliable supply of water nearby. A birdbath will not be sufficient. If you live along a lake or river, consider yourself lucky. Put the martin house on a pole at the end of the dock and you have a better chance of attracting martins than the rest of us.
The male arrives in the breeding grounds ahead of the females. He will select and defend several "rooms" until the female arrives and decides which one she wants.
Diet
Purple Martins are aerial insectivores. Their diet is limited to flying insects which they catch in flight. Their diet includes butterflies, moths, grasshoppers, cicadas, bees, wasps, June bugs and of course, mosquitoes. The belief that a Purple Martin can eat 2,000 mosquitoes a day is true as well as false. They can eat 2,000 mosquitoes a day, but rarely do. A very small percentage of their diet consists of mosquitoes. Purple Martins may be able to eat 2,000 mosquitoes a day, but rarely do. They prefer larger insects with a little more "meat" on them.
Voice
The Purple Martin's call is a series of loud, gurgling notes. They are social birds and chatter back and forth.
Recognizing Bird Songs
Interesting Trivia
2.Nestlings are fed up to 60 times a day.
3.In isolated areas the Purple Martins may use their traditional nesting sites, abandoned woodpecker cavities, crevices along cliffs, and hollow trees.
4.Depended on insects for food, the Purple Martins are vulnerable to starvation during extended periods of cool/damp weather.
Purple Martins and other Backyard Birds
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Resources used to construct this page.
Peterson, T.P. & Peterson, V.M. 2002. Birds of Eastern and Central North America, Fifth Edition. Houghton Mifflin Company, New York, N.Y.
Cornell University Laboratory of Ornithology
Seattle Audubon Society
Purple Martins, Chipper Woods Observatory
