adult male; purple all over (Illinois, USA; 2008-04-23)


Purple Martin
Progne subis

Native Range: North America and Middle America

Notes: a large swallow that nest colonially in cavities or (nowadays) in apartment-style birdhouses or clustered gourds supplied by humans; strong sexual dimorphism; like all swallows, catches insects on the wing.

adult male flying; forked tail (Georgia, USA; 2009-05-15)
dorsal view of male (Georgia, USA; 2009-05-15)

adult female; dingy gray-brown underneath (Georgia, USA; 2009-05-15)
pair sitting on a birdhouse (Georgia, USA; 2008-04-23)

individual sitting near gourd birdhouses (Georgia, USA; 2009-05-19)