Progne subis
In a few scattered localities in the extreme southwestern Rockies, Purple Martins congregate at large apartment-style nest boxes to raise their young. Adults spiral around the nests, coming and going from foraging forays. The young perch clumsily at the opening of their apartment cavity, impatiently waiting for their parents to return with a mouthful of flying insects. Although the aerial maze of flying birds may at first glance appear chaotic, the complex is quite efficiently negotiated by the busy flyers. House Sparrows and European Starlings frequently invade unkempt martin houses. Human landlords of these complexes should clean the boxes and plug the holes until the earliest of the spring martins arrive and perch beside their locked apartments. The genus name of our largest swallow, Progne, refers to the daughter of Pandion, Prokne, who had changed herself into a swallow in Greek mythology. |
I.D.: General: dark blue, glossy body; slightly forked tail; pointed wings; small bill. Male: dark underparts. Female: gray underparts. Size: L 7-8 in. (18-20 cm). Range: rare to uncommon summer resident at low elevations in the southern U.S. Rockies. Habitat: Nesting: near semi-open aspen or ponderosa pine forests, often near water. In migration: over rivers, reservoirs and agricultural areas. Nesting: communal; nest is usually built in a human-made, apartment-style bird house, rarely in tree cavities or other natural cavities; nest materials include feathers, grass, mud and vegetation; female incubates 4-5 eggs for 15-16 days. Feeding: mostly while in flight; usually eats flies, ants, bugs, dragonflies and mosquitoes; may also walk on the ground, taking insects and rarely berries. Voice: rich, fluty, robin-like pew-pew, often heard in flight. Similar Species: European Starling: longer bill; lacks the forked tail. Barn Swallow: deeply forked tail; creamy brown underparts. |
