Martin WESTERN BIRDS 



Dawson records these birds as rare in Washington 

 except in the largest cities, where they dwell in the 

 busiest districts. 



GENUS PROGNE : WESTERN MARTIN. 



Western Martin: Progne subis hesperia. 

 FAMILY— SWALLOWS. 



In the Pacific Coast region, breeding from British 

 Columbia, south (its winter home unknown), is found 

 the Western Martin whose male is indistinguishable 

 from the Purple, but whose female has the light gray 

 of forehead extending back into the crown; back and 

 rump edged with grayish; bend of wing and under 

 coverts mottled with white; abdomen and under tail 

 coverts, white. 



These western birds have not taken kindly to civiliza- 

 tion for, although recorded as nesting in crevices in 

 buildings in southern California, for the most part they 

 are dwellers in the timbered regions of the mountains 

 and higher foothills. We of the west cannot help but 

 regret that they have not taken kindly to us. We would 

 gladly put out boxes for them and in most places there 

 are no English Sparrows to disturb them. 



Martins have the nearest approach to a song of any 

 of the family. Wilson says of it: "His usual note peuo, 

 peuo, peuo, is loud and musical, but is frequently suc- 

 ceeded by others more low and guttural." 



The birds in their natural homes select holes in trees 

 for nesting sites, as did formerly their eastern cousins. 



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