Purple Martin?

[Joe]

Sorry no photo.  Was at Sam Smith yesterday and a pair of birds were flying just above the grass at the far western end of the spit.  The male description in Sibley's (for a Purple Martin) roughly matches this bird for size and colour, but the female was a little more brownish overall.    They were not Grackles, Starlings, Cowbirds.  Perhaps the flight characteristics will give it away for the experts.  They were low to the ground with those effortless, swallow-like turns; staying close together.  Any help would be much appreciated.

Thanks,
Joe

[Brian Bailey]

There were lots of swallows (mainly Tree Swallows) there yesterday.  I didn't see any Purple Martins.  It's still a bit early for them, but it's possible.

Purple Martins are noticeably larger than swallows if you see them together, but failing that, the key field mark is the uniformly dark colour above and below.

BB

[Joe]

Does the flight pattern I described shed any light on the situation?  I believe I read an earlier posting about Martins at Sam Smith.

Joe

[Brian Bailey]

The flight style of Purple Martins is essentially the same as the swallows.  If anything I would say that martins are less likely than Tree Swallows to be seen flying low to the ground, but this early in the season, they will be flying wherever they can find food.

BB