Purple Martin
Purple Martin
Adult female and male
- Large, dark swallow
- Long wings and large bill
- Adult males are glossy purple overall, but in poor light, appear black
- Adult females are dusky gray with some glossy purple on crown and back
- © Cameron Rognan, NY, Montezuma NWR, Seneca Falls, May 2009
Purple Martin
Adult male
- Large swallow
- Long, pointed wings
- Dark, glossy purple overall, with duller wings
- © Cameron Rognan, NY, Montezuma NWR, Seneca Falls, May 2009
Purple Martin
Adult male
- Large, stocky swallow
- Large bill
- Glossy violet sheen overall, with darker, duller wings
- © Jim Paris, NJ, Edwin B. Forsythe NWR, Oceanville, May 2010
Purple Martin
Adult female
- Large, stocky swallow
- Long, pointed wings
- Females are mostly gray with smudgy streaks on breast
- Some glossy purple on crown and shoulders
- © Stefon Linton, AB, May 2009
Purple Martin
Adult female
- Large swallow, occasionally with a "peaked" crown
- Larger bill than other swallows
- Females are mostly gray with smudgy streaking on breast
- Purple iridescent patches on crown and back
- © Simon Richards, BC, Richmond, August 2011
Purple Martin
Adults at breeding colony
- Large, chunky swallows
- Nest colonially, often in man-made nest boxes with multiple "apartments"
- Glossy purple males appear mostly dark/black from a distance
- © J.M. Kosciw, CT, Hammonasset Beach State Park, Madison, August 2011
Purple Martin
Adult male
- Larger than other swallow species with longer wings and a larger bill
- Males are dark, glossy purple overall with duller black wings
- Slower wing-beats in flight, resembling a European Starling
- © Malcolm Gold, ND, Moffit, June 2010
Similar Species
Adult
- Smaller and daintier than Purple Martin
- Tiny bill
- Snowy white underparts
- © Joe Povenz, Holland, MI, May 2011
Adult
- Shorter, narrower wings than Purple Martin
- Bright white underparts distinctive in flight
- Tiny bill
- © Andy Johnson, Scio Church & Parker Rds., Washtenaw County, MI, April 2010
Adult male
- Smaller and more slender than Purple Martin
- Long, forked tail
- Buffy-orange underparts, with rusty throat and forehead
- © Eddie Y, Flushing Meadows, Corona, Queens, NY, May 2011
Adult
- Larger and stockier than Purple Martin
- Long, sharply-pointed yellow bill
- Short, squared-off tail with no notch
- © Eddie Y, Flushing Meadows, Queens, NY, June 2011