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Purple Martin, Prógne súbis, facts

Purple martins are the largest member of the swallow family.
Adult martins are about 7-1/2 inches long, weigh 1-1/2; to 2 ounces, and have a wing span of 15 inches.
Purple martins eat flying insects while on-the-wing or skimming water surfaces.
Even though purple martins are not feeder birds, they can be taught to accept supplemental food, such as crickets, mealworms, scrambled egg bits, raw lean hamburger pellets, etc.
The only bird species in the world almost totally dependent on man for nesting sites.
Choosing to nest in the company of other martins, purple martins are "colony nesters."
Martins are loyal to their homes; once they have nested successfully at a site, they usually return year after year. The young fledged from the colony site will return to the same vicinity the next year.
Aptly termed "semi-domesticated," martins show a marked preference for nesting near human activity.
Martins have been clocked flying more than 40 miles per hour.
Their beautiful song is one not easily described but is a favorite bird song of their enthusiasts.
The oldest documented purple martin of which we have an official record is one that carried U.S. band #B-261331, banded July 1, 1933, by Lawrence E. Hunter of Dallas City, Illinois. It was found dead by biologist George C. Arthur in 1947 -- 13 years and 10 months later.
"Neotropical migrants," purple martins winter in South America (chiefly in Brazil) then migrate to North America (east of the Rockies and lower parts of Canada) where they nest.
Once martins arrive in full (2-4 weeks from the first sighting) they begin nest building. An average nest consists of 4-5 white eggs that hatch in about 15 days. The babies fledge at 28 days.