Martin (bird)

Martin (bird), common name for several birds of the same family as swallows. In British usage, members of the family with forked tails are called “swallows,” and those that lack such tails are called “martins,” hence the two British short-tailed species are called house martin and sand martin; the latter is called bank swallow in America. This distinction is not used in North America, where the term martin applies only to birds of a particular genus. There are several tropical species, but the only North American species is the purple martin, which is about 20 cm (about 8 in) long. Adult males are entirely bluish black; females and young males have the forehead and underparts gray. They migrate to South America every year, where they spend the winter. Purple martins are highly colonial and readily live in apartment-style birdhouses.

Scientific classification: Martins belong to the family Hirundinidae. The house martin is classified as Delichon urbica, and the sand martin, or bank swallow, as Riparia riparia. In North America, the term martin applies only to birds of the genus Progne. The purple martin is classified as Progne subis subis.