About the Purple Martin
The purple martin is a passerine bird in the swallow family Hirundinidae. It is the largest swallow in North America. Despite its name, the purple martin is not truly purple. The dark blackish-blue feathers have an iridescent sheen caused by the diffraction of incident light giving them a bright blue to navy blue or deep purple appearance. In some light, they may even appear green in color.
Source: Wikipedia
Taxonomy & Classification
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Passeriformes |
| Family | Swallows (Hirundinidae) |
| Species | Progne subis |
| Species Codes | purmar, PUMA |
Frequently Asked Questions
What family does the Purple Martin belong to?
The Purple Martin (Progne subis) belongs to the Swallows family (Hirundinidae), in the order Passeriformes.
How can I identify the Purple Martin?
The purple martin is a passerine bird in the swallow family Hirundinidae. It is the largest swallow in North America. Despite its name, the purple martin is not truly purple. The dark blackish-blue feathers have an iridescent sheen caused by the diffraction of incident light giving them a bright blu...
Where can I report a Purple Martin sighting?
You can log sightings of Purple Martin on eBird (ebird.org) using species code purmar, or on iNaturalist.
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