purple martin

plural purple martins

1. The largest North American swallow, Progne subis.

   Female and young purple martins are gray and black with some blue on the back.

   2013, Bill Thompson, Southern Birds: Backyard Guide

   2 more examples

   This practice of harbouring and protecting the purple martin does not appear to be of European origin, as the aboriginal Americans had adopted a similar practice from time immemorial.

   1831, James Rennie, The Architecture of Birds, page 343

   The American purple martin (Progne purpurea) is a visitor to North America, where it arrives in February at New Orleans, and Boston towards the end of April.

   1871, Samuel Orchart Beeton, Beeton's Dictionary of natural history, page 193