Purple Martin
Purple MartinPurple MartinPurple MartinPurple Martin

Purple Martin

Progne subis

Silhouette: Andy Wilson · PhyloPic

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered
Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
at Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge
46 Verified sightings at Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge From 2019 to 2026
10,845 Verified sightings across all 46 parks From 2019 to 2026
September Best month highest sighting rate
☀️ 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 Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge

Gray-breasted Martin
LC

Gray-breasted Martin

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Progne chalybea

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck
Barn Swallow
LC

Barn Swallow

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Hirundo rustica

Daily sighting probability ~30% · Possible
Cliff Swallow
LC

Cliff Swallow

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Petrochelidon pyrrhonota

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck
Bank Swallow
LC

Bank Swallow

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Riparia riparia

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck
Mangrove Swallow
LC

Mangrove Swallow

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Tachycineta albilinea

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
Southern Rough-winged Swallow
LC

Southern Rough-winged Swallow

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Stelgidopteryx ruficollis

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
Northern Rough-winged Swallow
LC

Northern Rough-winged Swallow

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Stelgidopteryx serripennis

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
Blue-and-white Swallow
LC

Blue-and-white Swallow

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Notiochelidon cyanoleuca

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data
Great Kiskadee
LC

Great Kiskadee

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Pitangus sulphuratus

Daily sighting probability ~70% · Very likely
Montezuma Oropendola
LC

Montezuma Oropendola

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Psarocolius montezuma

Daily sighting probability ~70% · Very likely
Lesser Greenlet
LC

Lesser Greenlet

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Hylophilus decurtatus

Daily sighting probability ~60% · Likely
Scarlet-rumped Tanager
LC

Scarlet-rumped Tanager

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Ramphocelus passerinii

Daily sighting probability ~50% · Likely

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

Quick answers

What are the chances of seeing a Purple Martin in Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge?

Under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Purple Martin sighting in Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge, based on 46 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.

When is the best time to see Purple Martin in Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge?

September has the highest sighting rate for Purple Martin in Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge in our monthly data.

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