The Purple Martin is one of America's favorite songbirds. The Purple Martin is the largest of the North American swallow family. They are characterized by a forked tail and by a dark glossy purple (adult males).

Purple Martins spend the winter in South America and come to North America to establish their breeding habitat. Purple Martins come to almost all states in the US, however, people in some western states will not see them at all or on a very limited basis.

The followng map (provided by The Purple Martin Conservation Association) depicts the Purple Martin North American breeding habitat areas along with their approximate arrival time of year.