Purple Martin

Progne subis

This swallow exhibits a brilliantly-coloured purple-blue body and gray-black wings and tail; the female is somewhat muted, with strong purple visible only on her head and back. Purple martins are considered desirable for their insect-catching prowess, and many people construct multiple-unit martin houses high on poles. This style of birdhouse has encouraged communal nesting, but other purple martins are more likely to nest in old woodpecker holes.

Distribution of Purple Martin in Canada