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Purple Martin
Progne subis
Audubon Illustration
John James Audubon, Birds of America (1827-1838). Public domain.
Migration Flyway
Showing primary migration corridor(s) for this species
Last Spotted Near You
About the Purple Martin
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. The dark blackish-blue feathers have an iridescent sheen caused by the diffraction of incident light giving them a bright blue to navy blue or deep purple appearance. In some light, they may even appear green in color. They are migratory, with their breeding range including all of the eastern United States and southeastern Canada, as well as the coastal Pacific Northwest, Baja California, Arizona, and New Mexico.
Source: Wikipedia
Classification
- Scientific name
- Progne subis
- Family
- Swallows
- Order
- Passeriformes
Similar species
Other members of the swallows family recorded in North America — a useful place to start if you are not certain of your identification.
- Bahama Swallow Tachycineta cyaneoviridis
- Bank Swallow Riparia riparia
- Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica
- Black-capped Swallow Atticora pileata
- Blue-and-white Swallow Pygochelidon cyanoleuca
- Brown-chested Martin Progne tapera
- Cave Swallow Petrochelidon fulva
- Cliff Swallow Petrochelidon pyrrhonota
- Cuban Martin Progne cryptoleuca
- Gray-breasted Martin Progne chalybea
- Mangrove Swallow Tachycineta albilinea
- Northern Rough-winged Swallow Stelgidopteryx serripennis
Know when the Purple Martin turns up near you
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Optics
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