Purple Martins

[Sandpiper]

Are Purple Martins really purple, or do they look black in person?

Thanks,
jt

[Mary Lee]

The male Purple Martin is bluish black.

[Sandpiper]

The male Purple Martin is bluish black.

Thanks. I am having a difficult time trying to decide if the relatively new flock of birds that have been visiting are Purple Martins or some sort of Starlings. I have looked at Starlings on whatbird.com, but the picture there does not look anything like these birds. They do not exactly look purple to me, though.

jt

[Mary Lee]

I think that most purple martins have already left the area. I've been getting lots of common grackles at my feeders lately. Could that be what's visiting your feeders, too?

[Sandpiper]

Hmmm, I am not sure. I thought Grackles were a bit bigger than these birds. The ones I think may be Purple Martins are about two to three times the size of the Sparrows. I am getting large black birds, too, and I thought those were the Grackles. This second kind is still not a big as the black birds I think are crows, which are even larger.

So, I have three sizes of black birds right now. The first, which I think might be Purple Martins, are two to three times larger than the Sparrows, and the second are two times larger than the first. The third is the largest and is perhaps one and half to two times larger than the second.

The ones I think might be Purple Martins have been feeding in a big group, usually two to three dozen at a time. The second and third kinds are usually coming singly or a pair.

I enjoy them all, though.

jt

[Birder 13]

the purple martins would not be eating at feeders. they are insects eaters and would be flying around catching insects.

[Sandpiper]

the purple martins would not be eating at feeders. they are insects eaters and would be flying around catching insects.

Oh, I did not know they ate nothing but insects. Well, in that case, they must not be Purple Martins. Still not sure what they are, though.

Thanks,
jt

[dpbronze]

Hey !
Crow is as big as a chicken. Male, female, & immature Great-tailed Grackles may account for your others. Dp

[Sandpiper]

Hey !
Crow is as big as a chicken. Male, female, & immature Great-tailed Grackles may account for your others. Dp

I am not sure the largest is as large as a chicken, but they are quite big. The little ones do not have yellow eyes. Grackles have yellow eyes, yes? In any case, I enjoy having them come into the garden. It livens up the place. I was visited by a cute little Woodpecker this morning. : )