Purple Martin

Progne subis

Silhouette: Andy Wilson · PhyloPic

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered

KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
PhylumChordata (Chordates)
ClassAves (Birds)
OrderPasseriformes (Perching Birds)
FamilyHirundinidae (Swallows and Martins)
GenusProgne (New World Martins)
SpeciesProgne subis (Purple Martin)

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data

at Death Valley National Park

1 Verified sightings at Death Valley National Park From 2019 to 2026

10,845 Verified sightings across all 46 parks From 2019 to 2026

☀️ Diurnal When it's spotted during daytime hours (6am–6pm)

About the Purple Martin

The purple martin (Progne subis) is a passerine bird in the swallow family Hirundinidae. It is the largest swallow in North America. Despite its name, the purple martin is not truly purple. The dark blackish-blue feathers have an iridescent sheen caused by the diffraction of incident light giving them a bright blue to navy blue or deep purple appearance. In some light, they may even appear green in color.

They are migratory, with their breeding range including all of the eastern United States and southeastern Canada, as well as the coastal Pacific Northwest, Baja California, Arizona, and New Mexico. Most make a brief stopover in the Yucatán Peninsula or Cuba during pre-breeding migration to North America and during post-breeding migration before reaching their overwintering site in South America.

They are known for their speed, agility, and their characteristic mix of rapid, flapping, and gliding flight patterns. When approaching their nesting site, they will dive from the sky at great speeds with their wings tucked, just like the peregrine falcon does when hunting smaller birds.

In 1750 the English naturalist George Edwards included an illustration and a description... Wikipedia →

Closest Relatives at Death Valley National Park

Hirundo rustica

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck

Tachycineta bicolor

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck

Stelgidopteryx serripennis

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck

Tachycineta thalassina

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck

Petrochelidon pyrrhonota

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck

Riparia riparia

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

Corvus corax

Daily sighting probability ~80% · Very likely

Haemorhous mexicanus

Daily sighting probability ~60% · Likely

Zonotrichia leucophrys

Daily sighting probability ~50% · Likely

Setophaga coronata

Daily sighting probability ~40% · Likely

Sayornis saya

Daily sighting probability ~40% · Likely

Spinus psaltria

Daily sighting probability ~40% · Likely

See all 12 relatives Show fewer

Global Distribution

Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.

Parks Where Found

#	Park	Country	Daily sighting probability
1	Isla del Coco National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	~40%
2	Point Pelee National Park	🇨🇦 Canada	~20%
3	Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve	🇲🇽 Mexico	~10%
4	Everglades National Park	🇺🇸 United States	~10%
5	Big Cypress National Preserve	🇺🇸 United States	~10%
6	Saguaro National Park	🇺🇸 United States	~10%
7	Celestún Biosphere Reserve	🇲🇽 Mexico	~10%
8	Calakmul Biosphere Reserve	🇲🇽 Mexico	~10%
9	Ría Lagartos Biosphere Reserve	🇲🇽 Mexico	~10%
10	Arrecifes de Cozumel National Park	🇲🇽 Mexico	<5%
11	Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	<5%
12	Cahuita National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	<5%
13	Shenandoah National Park	🇺🇸 United States	<5%
14	Anavilhanas National Park	🇧🇷 Brazil	<5%
15	Bastimentos Island National Marine Park	🇵🇦 Panama	<5%
16	Tortuguero National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	<5%
17	Lago de Yojoa	🇭🇳 Honduras	<5%
18	El Vizcaíno Biosphere Reserve	🇲🇽 Mexico	<5%
19	Soberanía National Park	🇵🇦 Panama	<5%
20	La Amistad International Park (Panama)	🇵🇦 Panama	<5%
21	Congaree National Park	🇺🇸 United States	<5%
22	Tikal National Park	🇬🇹 Guatemala	<5%
23	Chagres National Park	🇵🇦 Panama	<5%
24	Braulio Carrillo National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	<5%
25	Biotopo Cerro Cahuí	🇬🇹 Guatemala	Insufficient data
26	Coiba National Park	🇵🇦 Panama	Insufficient data
27	Cerro Azul Meámbar National Park	🇭🇳 Honduras	Insufficient data
28	Amacayacu National Natural Park	🇨🇴 Colombia	Insufficient data
29	Ostional Wildlife Refuge	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	Insufficient data
30	Amboró National Park	🇧🇴 Bolivia	Insufficient data
31	Las Baulas Marine National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	Insufficient data
32	Chapada dos Guimarães National Park	🇧🇷 Brazil	Insufficient data
33	Bahía de Loreto National Park	🇲🇽 Mexico	Insufficient data
34	Puracé National Natural Park	🇨🇴 Colombia	Insufficient data
35	Marino Ballena National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	Insufficient data
36	Montes Azules Biosphere Reserve	🇲🇽 Mexico	Insufficient data
37	Piedras Blancas National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	Insufficient data
38	Carara National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	Insufficient data
39	Palo Verde National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	Insufficient data
40	Tenorio Volcano National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	Insufficient data
41	Manuel Antonio National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	Insufficient data
42	Ciénaga de Zapata	🇨🇺 Cuba	Insufficient data
43	Arenal Volcano National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	Insufficient data
44	Corcovado National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	Insufficient data
45	Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	Insufficient data
46	Joshua Tree National Park	🇺🇸 United States	Insufficient data

← Back to Death Valley National Park

Purple Martin

About the Purple Martin

Recent sightings of Purple Martin in Death Valley National Park

Closest Relatives at Death Valley National Park

Barn Swallow

Tree Swallow

Northern Rough-winged Swallow

Violet-green Swallow

Cliff Swallow

Bank Swallow

Common Raven

House Finch

White-crowned Sparrow

Yellow-rumped Warbler

Say's Phoebe

Lesser Goldfinch

Global Distribution

Parks Where Found