Purple Martin

Progne subis (Linnaeus, 1758) 9890
Family: Passeriformes > Hirundinidae

An extremely rare visitor from North America, where many people provide nest boxes for this large martin.

Added to the British List following the presence of a juvenile at Butt of Lewis, Outer Hebrides in September 2004. Purple Martin is a long-distance migrant, breeding across most of the United States and southern Canada, and wintering in South America, as far south as Argentina.

Select a topic for more facts and statistics about the Purple Martin

  • Breeding
  • Winter
15 records observations recorded by BTO surveyors
15 records

BTO RECORDS

15 records observations recorded by BTO surveyors
15 records

BTO RECORDS

Identification

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Status and Trends

Population size and trends and patterns of distribution based on BTO surveys and atlases with data collected by BTO volunteers.

CONSERVATION STATUS

This species can be found on the following statutory and conservation listings and schedules.

POPULATION SIZE

We have no population estimates for this scarce species.

Movement

Information about movement and migration based on online bird portals (e.g. BirdTrack), Ringing schemes and tracking studies.

RINGING RECOVERIES

View a summary of recoveries in the Online Ringing Report.

Biology

Lifecycle and body size information about Purple Martin, including statistics on nesting, eggs and lifespan based on BTO ringing and nest recording data.

PRODUCTIVITY & NESTING

Sample sizes are too small to report Productivity and Nesting statistics for this species.

CODES & CLASSIFICATION

For information in another language (where available) click on a linked name

Catalan: oreneta porpra
Czech: jiricka modrolesklá
Danish: Purpursvale
Dutch: Purperzwaluw
Estonian: türkiispääsuke (põhja-türkiispääsuke)
Finnish: sinipääsky
French: Hirondelle noire
German: Purpurschwalbe
Hungarian: bíborfecske
Irish: Gabhlán corcra
Italian: Rondine purpurea
Latvian: purpura curkste
Lithuanian: purpurine miškine kregžde
Norwegian: Purpursvale
Polish: jaskólczak modry
Portuguese: andorinha-azul / andorinha-roxa
Slovak: lastovicka purpurová
Spanish: Golondrina purpúrea
Swedish: blå storsvala

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