This large swallow breeds in North America and catches flying insects. In the East it uses nest boxes, while in the West it uses woodpecker holes in dead trees, then migrates to South America after breeding.
In summer in eastern North America, males look glossy blue-purple and females brown.
In summer 2019, researchers surveyed 11 sites across four Oregon counties in the Siuslaw National Forest for the western subspecies of Purple Martin. Nesting evidence was found in Lincoln and Benton counties, and birds foraged over adjacent private land in Tillamook County.
Purple Martins occurred at 18% of sites judged suitable for nesting. At Marys Peak in early July, a pair occupied a natural cavity in a snag, but neither bird appeared on the second or third visit and the attempt was unsuccessful. Drift Creek Oxbow also showed evidence of use, although water prevented the surveyor from reaching the nest area. Early-seral patches larger than 25 acres were rare on the national forest; smaller patches were separated by mature, closed-canopy stands.
An extinction-risk assessment has not been added yet.
At 11 sites in Oregon’s Siuslaw National Forest in 2019, researchers surveyed nesting habitat for the western subspecies. Large open patches of young forest combined with snags containing natural cavities were uncommon on the national forest.