Purple Martin
Progne subis
These, the largest of American swallows, are common summer visitors in eastern North America and a few places in the west, but all fly south in the winter, some as far as northern Argentina. Man-made nest boxes, or Martin condos, are the norm in the eastern USA, but birds in the western USA seem to prefer natural cavities, such as woodpecker holes for nesting.
Prior to visiting Texas in 2020, my only encounters with Purple Martins were with high-flyers zipping through the air at break-neck speeds. Thanks to a Martin condo in the RV park, where I stayed during the earliest lock-down phase of the Covid-19 pandemic, I was blessed with intimate encounters with these birds. The opportunity played a pivotal role in keeping me sane during insane times. I learned to recognise their bubbling songs and the calls they shared with the world, while they chased high-flying insects.
Today, science recognised three subspecies of Purple Martin:
- P. s. subis breeds across eastern North America from southern Canada south to southeastern USA, from the Rocky Mountains to the Atlantic coast, and south to south-central Mexico. They spend winters in South America east of the Andes.
- P. s. arboricola breeds throughout the Rocky Mountains, south to western Texas, southern Baja California (Mexico), and in the Pacific Northwest. Researchers believe they spend winters in South America.
- P. s. hesperia breeds in deserts of southern Baja California (Mexico) and southern Arizona south to Sonora (Mexico). Probably spends winters in South America.
Purple Martin(Progne subis) |
|
Description: Against a gray sky, these Purple Martins made nice silhouettes. My third day of exploration of Aransas NWR was a memorable one. I boarded the tour boat the "Skimmer" and got schooled by Captian Tommy Moore on a three plus hour cruise of the back-bays and waterways beyond the view of the public from the tour roads on the reserve. |
Date Taken: 2020:03:17 8:22 |
|
Location:
Fulton Harbor |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 550 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: PurpleMartin_D503163-BoatRide-Aransas-NWR |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Purple Martin(Progne subis) |
|
Description: Against a gray sky, these Purple Martins made nice silhouettes. My third day of exploration of Aransas NWR was a memorable one. I boarded the tour boat the "Skimmer" and got schooled by Captian Tommy Moore on a three plus hour cruise of the back-bays and waterways beyond the view of the public from the tour roads on the reserve. |
Date Taken: 2020:03:17 8:27 |
|
Location:
Fulton Harbor |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 550 mm, f/8.0, 1/1000 |
File Name: PurpleMartin_D503185-BoatRide-Aransas-NWR |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Purple Martin(Progne subis) |
|
Description: Against a gray sky, these Purple Martins made nice silhouettes. My third day of exploration of Aransas NWR was a memorable one. I boarded the tour boat the "Skimmer" and got schooled by Captian Tommy Moore on a three plus hour cruise of the back-bays and waterways beyond the view of the public from the tour roads on the reserve. |
Date Taken: 2020:03:17 8:27 |
|
Location:
Fulton Harbor |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 550 mm, f/8.0, 1/1000 |
File Name: PurpleMartin_D503186-BoatRide-Aransas-NWR |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Purple Martin(Progne subis) |
|
Description: Purple Martins have a “condo” at my "home base" in Brownsville Texas, where a "Resaca" or Oxbow lake is on its southern border. I spent April Fools morning checking out the local bird life. |
Date Taken: 2020:04:01 9:03 |
|
Location:
Breeze Lake |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 550 mm, f/5.6, 1/2500 |
File Name: PurpleMartin_D508081-BreezeLake-TX |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Purple Martin(Progne subis) |
|
Description: Purple Martins have a “condo” at my "home base" in Brownsville Texas, where a "Resaca" or Oxbow lake is on its southern border. I spent April Fools morning checking out the local bird life. |
Date Taken: 2020:04:01 9:04 |
|
Location:
Breeze Lake |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 300 mm, f/5.6, 1/2500 |
File Name: PurpleMartin_D508099-BreezeLake-TX |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Purple Martin(Progne subis) |
|
Description: Purple Martins have a “condo” at my "home base" in Brownsville Texas, where a "Resaca" or Oxbow lake is on its southern border. I spent April Fools morning checking out the local bird life. |
Date Taken: 2020:04:01 9:04 |
|
Location:
Breeze Lake |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 300 mm, f/5.6, 1/2000 |
File Name: PurpleMartin_D508128-BreezeLake-TX |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Purple Martin(Progne subis) |
|
Description: Purple Martins have a “condo” at my "home base" in Brownsville Texas, where a "Resaca" or Oxbow lake is on its southern border. I spent April Fools morning checking out the local bird life. |
Date Taken: 2020:04:01 9:04 |
|
Location:
Breeze Lake |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 280 mm, f/5.6, 1/3200 |
File Name: PurpleMartin_D508170-BreezeLake-TX |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Purple Martin(Progne subis) |
|
Description: Purple Martins have a “condo” at my "home base" in Brownsville Texas, where a "Resaca" or Oxbow lake is on its southern border. I spent April Fools morning checking out the local bird life. |
Date Taken: 2020:04:01 9:06 |
|
Location:
Breeze Lake |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 550 mm, f/5.6, 1/1600 |
File Name: PurpleMartin_D508198-BreezeLake-TX |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Purple Martin(Progne subis) |
|
Description: Purple Martins have a “condo” at my "home base" in Brownsville Texas, where a "Resaca" or Oxbow lake is on its southern border. I spent April Fools morning checking out the local bird life. |
Date Taken: 2020:04:01 9:14 |
|
Location:
Breeze Lake |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 400 mm, f/9.0, 1/2000 |
File Name: PurpleMartin_D508284-BreezeLake-TX |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Purple Martin(Progne subis) |
|
Description: Purple Martins have a “condo” at my "home base" in Brownsville Texas, where a "Resaca" or Oxbow lake is on its southern border. I spent April Fools morning checking out the local bird life. |
Date Taken: 2020:04:01 9:14 |
|
Location:
Breeze Lake |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 330 mm, f/9.0, 1/2000 |
File Name: PurpleMartin_D508294-BreezeLake-TX |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Purple Martin(Progne subis) |
|
Description: Purple Martins have a “condo” at my "home base" in Brownsville Texas, where a "Resaca" or Oxbow lake is on its southern border. I spent April Fools morning checking out the local bird life. |
Date Taken: 2020:04:01 9:15 |
|
Location:
Breeze Lake |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 280 mm, f/9.0, 1/2500 |
File Name: PurpleMartin_D508338-BreezeLake-TX |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Purple Martin(Progne subis) |
|
Description: My "home base" in Brownsville Texas has a "Reseca" or Oxbow lake on its border. I spent my mornings checking out the local birdlife. |
Date Taken: 2020:04:04 10:29 |
|
Location:
Breeze Lake |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 550 mm, f/8.0, 1/1000 |
File Name: PurpleMartin_D509119-BreezeLake-TX |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Purple Martin(Progne subis) |
|
Description: My "home base" in Brownsville Texas has a "Reseca" or Oxbow lake on its border. I spent my mornings checking out the local birdlife. |
Date Taken: 2020:04:04 10:33 |
|
Location:
Breeze Lake |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 550 mm, f/8.0, 1/2500 |
File Name: PurpleMartin_D509178-BreezeLake-TX |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Purple Martin(Progne subis) |
|
Description: Flight shots of these Purple Martins proved a challenge. Stationary shots wer much easier to capture. The camp where I spent April in Brownsville, Texas has a "Reseca" or Oxbow lake on its border, Several feeder stations, with tall trees and grassy areas. |
Date Taken: 2020:04:26 8:54 |
|
Location:
Breeze Lake |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1250 |
File Name: PurpleMartin_D508439Breeze-Lake-TX |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Purple Martin(Progne subis) |
|
Description: Purple Martins have a “condo” at my "home base" in Brownsville Texas, where a "Resaca" or Oxbow lake is on its southern border. I spent April Fools morning checking out the local bird life. |
Date Taken: 2020:04:01 9:15 |
|
Location:
Breeze Lake |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 280 mm, f/9.0, 1/2500 |
File Name: PurpleMartin_D508368-BreezeLake-TX |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Purple Martin(Progne subis) |
|
Description: Purple Martins have a “condo” at my "home base" in Brownsville Texas, where a "Resaca" or Oxbow lake is on its southern border. I spent April Fools morning checking out the local bird life. |
Date Taken: 2020:04:01 9:15 |
|
Location:
Breeze Lake |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 280 mm, f/9.0, 1/2000 |
File Name: PurpleMartin_D508364-BreezeLake-TX |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Purple Martin Condo(Scenery) |
|
Description: Purple Martins have a “condo” at my "home base" in Brownsville Texas, where a "Resaca" or Oxbow lake is on its southern border. I spent April Fools morning checking out the local bird life. |
Date Taken: 2020:04:01 9:17 |
|
Location:
Breeze Lake |
|
Camera Information: moto x4, 3.99 mm, 1/1000 |
File Name: PurpleMartin-Condo-20200401_091751-BreezeLake-TX |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Purple Martin(Progne subis) |
|
Description: Against a gray sky, these Purple Martins made nice silhouettes. My third day of exploration of Aransas NWR was a memorable one. I boarded the tour boat the "Skimmer" and got schooled by Captian Tommy Moore on a three plus hour cruise of the back-bays and waterways beyond the view of the public from the tour roads on the reserve. |
Date Taken: 2020:03:17 8:27 |
|
Location:
Fulton Harbor |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 550 mm, f/8.0, 1/1000 |
File Name: PurpleMartin_D503182-BoatRide-Aransas-NWR |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Purple Martin(Progne subis) |
|
Description: I’d not seen Purple Martins this winter in south Texas until I came to Edinburg. These were the early-birds of the species. I had an errand to run in McAllen Texas on Saturday and took the opportunity to meet a new birding location in the area, called the Edinburg Scenic Wetlands. What a lovely place! |
Date Taken: 2021:02:06 13:36 |
|
Location:
Edinburg Scenic Wetlands |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/11.0, 1/800 |
File Name: PurpleMartin_D5X9368-Edinburg |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Click map markers to reveal further information
Purple Martin(Progne subis) |
|
Description: Against a gray sky, these Purple Martins made nice silhouettes. My third day of exploration of Aransas NWR was a memorable one. I boarded the tour boat the "Skimmer" and got schooled by Captian Tommy Moore on a three plus hour cruise of the back-bays and waterways beyond the view of the public from the tour roads on the reserve. |
Date Taken: 2020:03:17 8:22 |
|
Location:
Fulton Harbor |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 550 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: PurpleMartin_D503163-BoatRide-Aransas-NWR |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Purple Martin(Progne subis) |
|
Description: Against a gray sky, these Purple Martins made nice silhouettes. My third day of exploration of Aransas NWR was a memorable one. I boarded the tour boat the "Skimmer" and got schooled by Captian Tommy Moore on a three plus hour cruise of the back-bays and waterways beyond the view of the public from the tour roads on the reserve. |
Date Taken: 2020:03:17 8:27 |
|
Location:
Fulton Harbor |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 550 mm, f/8.0, 1/1000 |
File Name: PurpleMartin_D503185-BoatRide-Aransas-NWR |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Purple Martin(Progne subis) |
|
Description: Against a gray sky, these Purple Martins made nice silhouettes. My third day of exploration of Aransas NWR was a memorable one. I boarded the tour boat the "Skimmer" and got schooled by Captian Tommy Moore on a three plus hour cruise of the back-bays and waterways beyond the view of the public from the tour roads on the reserve. |
Date Taken: 2020:03:17 8:27 |
|
Location:
Fulton Harbor |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 550 mm, f/8.0, 1/1000 |
File Name: PurpleMartin_D503186-BoatRide-Aransas-NWR |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Purple Martin(Progne subis) |
|
Description: Purple Martins have a “condo” at my "home base" in Brownsville Texas, where a "Resaca" or Oxbow lake is on its southern border. I spent April Fools morning checking out the local bird life. |
Date Taken: 2020:04:01 9:03 |
|
Location:
Breeze Lake |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 550 mm, f/5.6, 1/2500 |
File Name: PurpleMartin_D508081-BreezeLake-TX |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Purple Martin(Progne subis) |
|
Description: Purple Martins have a “condo” at my "home base" in Brownsville Texas, where a "Resaca" or Oxbow lake is on its southern border. I spent April Fools morning checking out the local bird life. |
Date Taken: 2020:04:01 9:04 |
|
Location:
Breeze Lake |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 300 mm, f/5.6, 1/2500 |
File Name: PurpleMartin_D508099-BreezeLake-TX |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Purple Martin(Progne subis) |
|
Description: Purple Martins have a “condo” at my "home base" in Brownsville Texas, where a "Resaca" or Oxbow lake is on its southern border. I spent April Fools morning checking out the local bird life. |
Date Taken: 2020:04:01 9:04 |
|
Location:
Breeze Lake |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 300 mm, f/5.6, 1/2000 |
File Name: PurpleMartin_D508128-BreezeLake-TX |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Purple Martin(Progne subis) |
|
Description: Purple Martins have a “condo” at my "home base" in Brownsville Texas, where a "Resaca" or Oxbow lake is on its southern border. I spent April Fools morning checking out the local bird life. |
Date Taken: 2020:04:01 9:04 |
|
Location:
Breeze Lake |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 280 mm, f/5.6, 1/3200 |
File Name: PurpleMartin_D508170-BreezeLake-TX |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Purple Martin(Progne subis) |
|
Description: Purple Martins have a “condo” at my "home base" in Brownsville Texas, where a "Resaca" or Oxbow lake is on its southern border. I spent April Fools morning checking out the local bird life. |
Date Taken: 2020:04:01 9:06 |
|
Location:
Breeze Lake |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 550 mm, f/5.6, 1/1600 |
File Name: PurpleMartin_D508198-BreezeLake-TX |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Purple Martin(Progne subis) |
|
Description: Purple Martins have a “condo” at my "home base" in Brownsville Texas, where a "Resaca" or Oxbow lake is on its southern border. I spent April Fools morning checking out the local bird life. |
Date Taken: 2020:04:01 9:14 |
|
Location:
Breeze Lake |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 400 mm, f/9.0, 1/2000 |
File Name: PurpleMartin_D508284-BreezeLake-TX |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Purple Martin(Progne subis) |
|
Description: Purple Martins have a “condo” at my "home base" in Brownsville Texas, where a "Resaca" or Oxbow lake is on its southern border. I spent April Fools morning checking out the local bird life. |
Date Taken: 2020:04:01 9:14 |
|
Location:
Breeze Lake |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 330 mm, f/9.0, 1/2000 |
File Name: PurpleMartin_D508294-BreezeLake-TX |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Purple Martin(Progne subis) |
|
Description: Purple Martins have a “condo” at my "home base" in Brownsville Texas, where a "Resaca" or Oxbow lake is on its southern border. I spent April Fools morning checking out the local bird life. |
Date Taken: 2020:04:01 9:15 |
|
Location:
Breeze Lake |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 280 mm, f/9.0, 1/2500 |
File Name: PurpleMartin_D508338-BreezeLake-TX |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Purple Martin(Progne subis) |
|
Description: My "home base" in Brownsville Texas has a "Reseca" or Oxbow lake on its border. I spent my mornings checking out the local birdlife. |
Date Taken: 2020:04:04 10:29 |
|
Location:
Breeze Lake |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 550 mm, f/8.0, 1/1000 |
File Name: PurpleMartin_D509119-BreezeLake-TX |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Purple Martin(Progne subis) |
|
Description: My "home base" in Brownsville Texas has a "Reseca" or Oxbow lake on its border. I spent my mornings checking out the local birdlife. |
Date Taken: 2020:04:04 10:33 |
|
Location:
Breeze Lake |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 550 mm, f/8.0, 1/2500 |
File Name: PurpleMartin_D509178-BreezeLake-TX |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Purple Martin(Progne subis) |
|
Description: Flight shots of these Purple Martins proved a challenge. Stationary shots wer much easier to capture. The camp where I spent April in Brownsville, Texas has a "Reseca" or Oxbow lake on its border, Several feeder stations, with tall trees and grassy areas. |
Date Taken: 2020:04:26 8:54 |
|
Location:
Breeze Lake |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1250 |
File Name: PurpleMartin_D508439Breeze-Lake-TX |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Purple Martin(Progne subis) |
|
Description: Purple Martins have a “condo” at my "home base" in Brownsville Texas, where a "Resaca" or Oxbow lake is on its southern border. I spent April Fools morning checking out the local bird life. |
Date Taken: 2020:04:01 9:15 |
|
Location:
Breeze Lake |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 280 mm, f/9.0, 1/2500 |
File Name: PurpleMartin_D508368-BreezeLake-TX |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Purple Martin(Progne subis) |
|
Description: Purple Martins have a “condo” at my "home base" in Brownsville Texas, where a "Resaca" or Oxbow lake is on its southern border. I spent April Fools morning checking out the local bird life. |
Date Taken: 2020:04:01 9:15 |
|
Location:
Breeze Lake |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 280 mm, f/9.0, 1/2000 |
File Name: PurpleMartin_D508364-BreezeLake-TX |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Purple Martin Condo(Scenery) |
|
Description: Purple Martins have a “condo” at my "home base" in Brownsville Texas, where a "Resaca" or Oxbow lake is on its southern border. I spent April Fools morning checking out the local bird life. |
Date Taken: 2020:04:01 9:17 |
|
Location:
Breeze Lake |
|
Camera Information: moto x4, 3.99 mm, 1/1000 |
File Name: PurpleMartin-Condo-20200401_091751-BreezeLake-TX |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Purple Martin(Progne subis) |
|
Description: Against a gray sky, these Purple Martins made nice silhouettes. My third day of exploration of Aransas NWR was a memorable one. I boarded the tour boat the "Skimmer" and got schooled by Captian Tommy Moore on a three plus hour cruise of the back-bays and waterways beyond the view of the public from the tour roads on the reserve. |
Date Taken: 2020:03:17 8:27 |
|
Location:
Fulton Harbor |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 550 mm, f/8.0, 1/1000 |
File Name: PurpleMartin_D503182-BoatRide-Aransas-NWR |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Purple Martin(Progne subis) |
|
Description: I’d not seen Purple Martins this winter in south Texas until I came to Edinburg. These were the early-birds of the species. I had an errand to run in McAllen Texas on Saturday and took the opportunity to meet a new birding location in the area, called the Edinburg Scenic Wetlands. What a lovely place! |
Date Taken: 2021:02:06 13:36 |
|
Location:
Edinburg Scenic Wetlands |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/11.0, 1/800 |
File Name: PurpleMartin_D5X9368-Edinburg |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Click map markers to reveal further information
