Purple Martin Progne subis
Flight call description Most common flight call is a rich descending "cheur". Gives a wide variety of other calls including a low, throaty "chrrr" and a rolling, descending "chee-chrr-chr". Also gives a buzzy "bzee" or "bzee-dzuit" and a lower, buzzy "dzrrt".
Fig.1. Florida April 23, 1989 (WRE).
"Cheur" call from bird in flight. Note insect song at 6 kHz.
Fig.2. Florida April 23, 1989 (WRE).
"Chrrr" call from bird in flight.
Fig.3. Florida April 23, 1989 (WRE).
"Bzee" call from bird in flight.
Fig.4. Florida April 23, 1989 (WRE).
"Bzee-dzuit" call from bird in flight.
Fig.5. Florida April 23, 1989 (WRE).
"Dzrrt" call from bird in flight.
Examples
Diurnal calling sequences:
1. Florida April 23, 1989 (WRE). Song in flight.
2. Florida April 23, 1989 (WRE). Variety of calls from perched and flying birds near a nest house.
3. Florida April 23, 1989 (WRE). "Cheur" calls in flight.
4. Florida April 23, 1989 (WRE). "Chrrr" and "bzee-dzuit" calls in flight.
5. Florida April 24, 1995 (WRE). Dawn flight song high in the sky.
6. North Carolina July 5, 2001 (MO). "Cheur" calls from perched and flying birds near a nest house.
7. New Jersey July 11, 2001 (MO). Variety of calls from perched and flying birds near a nest house.
8. New Jersey August 5, 2001 (MO). "Cheur" call variation from perched bird in mild alarm.
Similar species Generally very distinctive but compare "dzrrt" call with Northern Rough-winged Swallow and Dickcissel.
Behavior Primarily a diurnal migrant. Flight calls are given frequently by perched and flying birds during the day on the breeding grounds but migrants are generally silent. Not known to give flight calls at night but begins calling very early in the morning during pre-dawn flights.