Order Passeriformes Higher classification Purple martins | Phylum Chordata Family Hirundinidae Rank Species | |
Similar Bird, Brown‑chested martin, Purple martins, Southern rough‑winged swallow, Swallow | ||
The grey-breasted martin (Progne chalybea) is a large swallow from Central and South America.
Contents
Taxonomy and etymology
The subspecies and their distributions are:
The southern subspecies migrates north as far as Venezuela during the southern hemisphere's winter, and the nominate form also undertakes local movements after the breeding season.
Description
Adult grey-breasted martins are 18 cm (7.1 in) in length, with a forked tail and relatively broad wings, and weigh 39 g (1.4 oz). Adult males are a glossy blue-black with the grey-brown throat, breast and sides contrasting with the white lower underparts. Females are duller than the male, and juveniles have dull brown upperparts.
Breeding
The grey-breasted martin nests in cavities in banks and buildings, or old woodpecker holes. Normally 2–4 eggs are laid in the lined nest, and incubated for 15–16 days, with another 22 to fledging.
Diet
Grey-breasted martins are gregarious birds which hunt for insects in flight. Their call is a gurgly chew-chew, similar to that of the closely related Caribbean martin. The latter species is slightly larger, and has more contrasting underparts.
