The Purple Martin is the largest swallow in North America. Adult males are dark and glossy, while females and younger birds are grey below with darker upperparts. It catches flying insects high over open land and water. Eastern populations now depend heavily on nest houses, while western birds often use woodpecker cavities in dead trees. After breeding, martins gather at communal roosts that may contain thousands of birds.
Locations where this species is supported by a dated first record, an unambiguous single-place outing or a reviewed assignment.
