Purple Martin

♂ Purple Martin, Progne subis

The Purple Martin is the largest of the North American swallows, and one that breeds almost entirely in backyard birdhouses. Before the arrival of Europeans, some Native American tribes had set up empty gourds for this bird to use. An almost complete conversion from its natural use of abandoned woodpecker holes to those artificially manufactured occurred along the east coast before the beginning of the twentieth century. West of the Rocky Mountains, where the species is less common, there have been some sightings of nesting in natural cavities. They compete for space with the introduced European Starlings and House Sparrows. The use of colony site management helps prevent area extinction of the Purple Martin. This insectivore can be seen nesting in North America during the summer, and wintering in the savannas and agricultural fields of South America.