Details About Purple Martin Bird Houses

The Purple Martin is a favorite among bird watchers. Their graceful movements through the air and dive bombing antics are thrilling to watch. In the springtime, people spend countless hours hanging their birdhouses and then waiting on these large swallows to return from their winters in Brazil. Many times the Purple Martin is a no-show for their birdhouses -- usually because these birds are particular about where they nest and live. If you live east of the Rocky Mountains and take care in putting up the right type of birdhouse in the proper location, you may be lucky enough to attract a Purple Martin colony.

  1. Bird House Size and Style

    • Do not use string or wire to mount your birdhouse

      For years, Native Americans hung gourds to attract and house Purple Martins, which helped take care of pesky insects in their villages. Gourds are still used by many people today. The Purple Martin Conservation Association recommends painting the gourds white or another very light color to keep the temperature cooler in the bird house. If you prefer not to use gourds, there are many other birdhouse styles that will attract the species. Each compartment floor in the birdhouse should measure 7 inches by 12 inches, and the opening to the compartment should have a diameter of 2 inches. All Purple Martin birdhouses should have small openings to allow air circulation and drainage.

    Bird House Materials

    • Pine needles make excellent nesting material

      The Purple Martin doesn't seem to be particular about the material their home is built with. You can find birdhouses made of wood, metal, plastic, and gourds -- all of which can make these birds quite happy. The Purple Martin Conservation Association suggests that both gourds and traditional birdhouses be used to coax them into your yard.

    Location and Erection

    • Clean your bird houses in winter while the Martins are away

      Having the perfect Purple Martin house is not enough to attract them to your yard to stay. These aerial daredevils require lots of open territory with no trees or shrubs. The best way to hang the Purple Martin house is from a large sturdy pole in a clear or open area of your yard. The houses can be placed 10 to 20 feet from the ground. Do not hang your birdhouse with wire or string because these can injure your feathered friends or allow squirrels or other rodents to raid the birdhouse. Hang the birdhouse directly from the pole or a hook attached to the pole for best results.

    Bird House Extras

    • Offering an inch or two of nesting material to the bottom of your Purple Martin house may entice them to move right in. Straw and pine needles work well, but be sure to avoid using any materials that may contain chemicals. You may also use shredded newspaper combined with natural nesting materials. Specialty pet stores often sell bags of nesting material that you may opt to use instead of collecting your own.