purple martin

A large swallow (Progne subis) of the Americas, having glossy blue-black plumage and, in the female, a light-colored breast.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

pur′ple mar′tin

a large American swallow, Progne subis, the male of which is blue-black.

[1735–45, Amer.]

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

Noun

purple martin - large North American martin of which the male is blue-black

Progne subis

martin - any of various swallows with squarish or slightly forked tail and long pointed wings; migrate around Martinmas

genus Progne, Progne - a genus of Hirundinidae

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References in periodicals archive

I've found even 400 fps is perfectly adequate for dealing with sparrows trying to muscle in on my purple martin nests.

THE .177 SOLUTION

* PURPLE MARTIN A migrant from South America, this bird flies north to breed.

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Residents create shelter for their featured friends by building Bluebird, Purple Martin and Wood Duck houses in the community's woodshop.

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-- As the purple martin parents circled, swooped and watched from a high perch a few yards away, Sam Thomas unlatched the door of what looked like a large Victorian dollhouse and reached into one of the shelves inside.

Threatened purple martin tracked

The wildlife team also monitors a 24-unit purple martin house.

Vulcan Materials receives Habitat Conservation Award

* Building bat towers and purple martin houses to attract potential mosquito predators has been proven useless.

Mosquitos: send 'em packing! Seven ways to keep mosquitoes from crashing your next party

For example, studies show that a single purple martin can eat 2,000 flying insects a day.

Pest patrol: a lively alternative to garden chemicals

The North American purple martin - which has never been seen in Europe - has been spotted in the north of Lewis.

Cheep purple

I discovered that my rocketing robin was really a swooping swallow, commonly known as the purple martin (Progne subis).

Purple martin purgatory: I flap my fool feathers right off trying to satisfy my compulsion to serve everyone

* Information on attracting martins can be obtained by writing to the Purple Martin Conservation Association (PMCA), Edinboro University of Pennsylvania, Edinboro, PA 15419.

The purple martin: America's most wanted bird

In the past, Purple Martin houses were a popular choice for mosquito control.

Going batty!

Purple Martin: Aerial feeders that forage over land and water, purple martins eat a variety of winged insects.

Ten Birds That Help Control Garden Pests