purple martin
noun
: a large swallow (Progne subis) of North America the males of which have glossy purplish-blue plumage
Examples of purple martin in a Sentence
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DeLuca lists the great crested flycatcher, prothonotary warbler, chickadees, nuthatches, Eastern bluebirds, tree swallows, and purple martins as among birds that will nest in a hollow or snag.
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Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 30 May 2026
There are eight species of swallows that regularly breed in North America: the bank swallow, barn swallow, cave swallow, cliff swallow, northern rough-winged swallow, purple martin, tree swallow and violet-green swallow.
—Kurt Snibbe, Oc Register, 21 Mar. 2026
The purple martin is, to the untrained eye, merely a bird.
—Ana Gutierrez, Austin American Statesman, 7 Aug. 2025
As purple martins called overhead, a female common pondhawk dragonfly curved her abdomen and dropped eggs into vegetation in the water as the male hovered above.
—Sheryl De Vore, Chicago Tribune, 22 July 2025
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Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 30 May 2026
There are eight species of swallows that regularly breed in North America: the bank swallow, barn swallow, cave swallow, cliff swallow, northern rough-winged swallow, purple martin, tree swallow and violet-green swallow.
—Kurt Snibbe, Oc Register, 21 Mar. 2026
The purple martin is, to the untrained eye, merely a bird.
—Ana Gutierrez, Austin American Statesman, 7 Aug. 2025
As purple martins called overhead, a female common pondhawk dragonfly curved her abdomen and dropped eggs into vegetation in the water as the male hovered above.
—Sheryl De Vore, Chicago Tribune, 22 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for purple martin
Cite this Entry
“Purple martin.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/purple%20martin. Accessed 10 Jun. 2026.
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