The Purple Martin North America's largest swallow. They have a lot of speed and agility in flight, and when approaching their housing, will dive from the sky with their wings tucked at great speeds.
It is the only bird totally dependent on humans for nest sites.
Their breeding habitat is open areas across eastern North America, and also some locations on the west coast from British Columbia to Mexico. This species typically breeds in colonies located in close proximity to human housing. The eastern nominate race nests exclusively in man-made bird houses, of which about a million are provided.
Swallows, those aerial acrobats that delight us with their graceful flight, play a significant role in ecosystems around the world. Beyond their interesting antics and dapper good looks, swallows are a fascinating subject for study for citizen scientists. Citizen science projects involving swallows offer bird enthusiasts of all... Read more »
This week we're celebrating Swallows! Swallows, along with Martins and Saw-wings, belong to the songbird family Hirundinidae. There are about 90 species in this widespread family. We've got a handful here in the Birdorable family, and we'll be adding a few more as our celebration of Swallows... Read more »
