What do purple martins look like?
Martins are the largest member of the swallow family in North America, measuring 71/2 inches long and weighing 1.9 ounces. The males are dark violet with hints of black. The females are a dull purple-grey color with a mottled white belly. Where do they like to hang out? Martins are almost totally dependent on housing supplied by humans. More than a million people provide housing for the birds across the United States in the form of hanging, hollowed-out gourds and specially crafted houses with multiple nesting compartments. Where can I buy one of the houses? Many of the stores that sell standard bird feeders also have martin houses for sale. You can find the houses locally at Wild Birds Unlimited and Bass Pro Shops. Thousands of houses are also available online from Web sites like bestnest.com. Where should I put the house to attract the birds? Purple martin houses should be placed on long poles, usually at least 10-12 feet off the ground. For best results, you should put yours in an o
