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Field Guide for all the Birds of North America

Martins

Hirondelles

Hirundinidae

Information, images and range maps on over 1,000 birds of North America, including sub-species, vagrants, introduced birds and possibilities

There are at least six types of species of martins seen in North America. The Purple Martin is the only native nesting martin among them. The Brown-chested Martin, Common House-Martin, Cuban Martin, Gray-breasted Martin and the Southern Martin are all vagrants. These non-native martins are visitors from Mexico and the southern countries and the Common House-Martin is the only exception, as it is a native bird of Eurasia.

The martins are insect-eating birds and they catch their prey on the wing. The Purple Martin is a bird species that totally depends on man for their nesting habitat. These social gathering birds nest in multi-unit birdhouses. Once a new bird house is established the same birds will return year after year.

Click on bird images or names to see pictures of the Martins seen in North America

Brown-chested Martin

Common House-Martin

Cuban Martin

Gray-breasted Martin

Purple Martin

Southern Martin

References to Other Bird Sites:

Avibase - the world bird database This site provides the user with a complete list of bird species, broken down per country, or in the example of the US or Canada, per state and province. Here, bird species names are available in other languages, a great asset to be used as a translation of foreign bird names.

ABA - American Birding Association This site represents an organization that maintains official records of all birds species that have been proven to have been seen inside the perimeters of the North American Continent and the surrounding bodies of water. Regular revised versions are posted to keep the bird list current at all times. This is the list used by all serious birders over their lifetime. You may be aware of the movie called the "Big Year". It was with this list that all the competing birders used in an attempt to set a new record as to how many bird species that could be seen by an individual birder in one calendar year.

I hope you will take advantage of these suggested websites. I have used each of them, in one way or another, throughout the years in my quest to better identify and understand our fine feathered friends.

Classic Collection of North American Birds

CCNAB