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SWALLOWS (HIRUNDINIDAE; 13 SPECIES) Worldwide family of aerial

insectivores recalling swifts, but the families not closely related. Wingbeats less stiff than swifts,

perch readily on wires, buildings; migrant roosts in reedbeds and towns can number 1000s. Ages

differ, sexes similar or different; adult appearance attained 1st year in most species, 2nd year in

Purple Martin.

MARTINS

(3 species). Large swallows with forked tails; often nest in small colonies in cavities of

dead trees, buildings. Flight powerful, with strong wingbeats, frequent gliding and soaring; often range

more widely and higher than other swallows; migrant roosts locally of 1000s, often on buildings.

PURPLE MARTIN  Progne subis 18–19.5cm. Transient migrant over varied

open and wooded habitats, mainly coastal lowlands. Mixes readily with other

swallows; large flocks and roosts on Caribbean slope during migration. Blue-

black adult male distinctive, wholly dark. Female/imm. variable: note contrasting

paler forehead and hindcollar. Also note deeper tail fork of Purple vs. Gray-

breasted, large dark centers to undertail coverts and distinct dark streaks below

on adult female Purple. Juv. whiter below than female, with only faint dark

streaks; juv. male bluish above, juv. female brownish above, more similar to

Gray-breasted Martin; note deeper tail fork, paler hindcollar of Purple. 1st-

summer male resembles female but with scattered blue-black feathers on breast. SOUNDS: Downslurred,

relatively low-pitched, rich twangy chreu; higher, slightly burry nasal chrrih. STATUS: Sporadically fairly

common to common late Jul–early Nov, mid-Jan to May on Caribbean slope; small numbers occur inland

and on Pacific slope, mainly in fall. (Breeds N America to Mexico, winters mainly S America.)

GRAY-BREASTED MARTIN  Progne chalybea 16.5–18cm. Widespread in

open and semi-open country of lowlands in towns, forest clearings, on coastal

cliffs and rocky islets. Ranges widely over open and wooded habitats, mixing

readily with other swallows. Both sexes resemble female Purple Martin but

slightly smaller with less strongly forked tail, cleaner white underparts (fine

dusky streaks rarely visible in field); lack pale hindcollar but forehead can be

paler. Adult male blue-black above, female has dull blue gloss above; juv. dark

sooty brownish above, paler throat and chest contrast less strongly with belly

than adult. Cf. smaller rough-winged swallows. SOUNDS: Chirps slightly higher,

burrier, more twittering than Purple Martin, may equally suggest Tree Swallow. Song a chirping, slightly

jerky slow-paced warble. STATUS: Common to fairly common breeder Feb–Aug on both slopes, to 1700m.

Wanders more widely Sep–Jan, when absent from many breeding areas, uncommon to fairly common

locally on Pacific slope; more widespread and numerous Aug–Oct, Jan–Feb, when n. migrants may occur.

(Mexico to S America.)

*BROWN-BANDED [BROWN-CHESTED] MARTIN  Phaeoprogne (Progne) [tapera] fusca 16–18cm.

Rare nonbr. migrant to open habitats, especially near water. Like other martins, often perches on wires,

feeds over open country, lakes, rivers. Flight strong, with snappier wingbeats than Gray-breasted Martin,

and glides on stiff bowed wings. Distinctive, suggests a giant Bank Swallow: note brown upperparts,

brown breast band contrasting with whitish throat and neck sides; median stripe of dark spots on breast

variable, can be hard to see. Wing molt mainly May–Sep vs. Jul–Dec in Gray-breasted. SOUNDS: Burry

chirrr and raspy nasal jihr, often doubled or in short series; lower and distinctly burrier than Gray-

breasted Martin. STATUS: Very rare and irregular nonbr. migrant, mainly Feb–early May, Aug to mid-Dec;

most records from Pacific coastal lowlands but could occur anywhere. (Breeds s. S America, winters cen.

S America to s. Cen America.)