Purple Martin Information
- What and how they eat: Purple Martins forage almost entirely in the air. They may forage very low over water, or quite high at times. Occasionally they walk about on ground to pick up insects, perhaps mostly in harsh weather. They feed on a wide variety of flying insects, including many wasps and winged ants, and some bees; also many true bugs, flies (including house flies and crane flies), beetles, moths, and butterflies. Dragonflies may be an important part of diet. Also eats some spiders.
- Nesting: Males return to nesting areas first in spring, establish nesting territories. Usually nests in colonies, especially in east, where almost all are in multiple-roomed nest boxes put up for them. Male will sometimes have more than one mate. Natural sites for nests are in cavities, mostly old woodpecker holes, in trees. In the east, most martins now use nest boxes. Sometimes nests in holes in buildings or cliffs. Nest (built by both sexes) is cup of leaves, grass, twigs, debris, and usually mud. Nest may have raised dirt rim in front to help keep eggs from rolling out.
- Habitat: Towns, farms, semi-open country near water; In the east, breeds in any kind of semi-open area where nest sites are provided, especially near a pond or river.
- Eggs and Young: Eggs 4-5, sometimes 3-8. White. Incubation is by female, 15-18 days. Both parents feed nestlings. Young leave nest about 26-31 days after hatching.
More Information about Purple Martins:
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