The purple martin migrates between North America and South America and is traditionally associated with nesting in purple martin houses.
Purple martins breed across much of eastern and central North America, where many populations use specially designed human-provided nest boxes. They spend the nonbreeding season in South America, especially in Brazil and nearby regions.
The species has a long relationship with people. Indigenous communities used hollow gourds as nest sites, and later North American households installed elaborate martin houses to attract colonies. In the eastern United States, artificial housing is now an important part of the species’ nesting ecology.
Purple martins are the largest swallow in North America, but they should not be confused with barn swallows, which build mud nests. Purple martins usually capture flying insects in open air and often migrate in large flocks.