Purple Martin

19 cm. Male steel blue, wings and tail black. <NFemale and juveniles are grey brown with a blue gloss on crown and back. Front, neckring, throat and chest light grayish brown with streaks. Belly whitish. In vocalization 1 mostly "zwrak" and "hee" calls which are considered to be alarm calls ^138 . In vocalizations 2 and 3 we hear mostly "zweet" alarm calls and "cher" calls greeting calls . Forages mainly in loose groups, often high above the ground. Breeds in North America. Winter migrant October- April to Southeast Brazil. Over open country, frequently near water, and in towns: often roosting in large flocks in town plazas and parks. Throughout but more regular in the interior. To 2000 meters 4948 Calls, song, Plum Island, MA, USA, July 7, 1999, sunny, 25<91>C , bushy dunes.: 7798 Calls, song, Plum Island, MA, USA, July 17, 1999, sunny, 25<91>C, with /Zenaida macroura, Passer domesticus . Bushy dunes.: 1448 Calls, Plum Island, MA, USA, July 17, 1999, sunny, 25<91>C, with /Passer domesticus , bushy dunes and swamp.: 79 >. Female<10>juvenile left, male right: 4241 :