414 Birds of Colorado 
Distribution. Breeding throughout temperate North America, 
except the Pacific coast region, from Nova Scotia, Manitoba and 
Montana southwards to Florida and the Mexican plateau, south in 
winter to Venezuela and Brazil. 
The Purple Martin is a rare bird in Colorado and quite local in its 
distribution. It seldom occurs along the eastern slopes of the moun- 
tains and is not represented in the Aiken collection by Colorado 
examples. It was, however, found breeding by Aiken at the head 
waters of the Apishapa Creek in June, 1872, and also at Brewster and 
Colby in western Kansas. On the western slope of the mountains 
it is more common, it was seen by Warren (08) at Mud Springs, 8,800 
feet in Rio Blanco co., and also near Newcastle, while Cooke states 
that it is common at Grand Junction and breeds in the river banks 
near by.* 
Morrison reports that it is common at Fort Lewis in La Plata co. 
and arrives there late. Warren (06) was told that it had formerly 
been noticed at Monon in Baca co., but that it had not bred there. 
Cary has recently met with it on the White River plateau, 25 miles 
south-east of Meeker at about 8,500 feet in August, and on the Un- 
compaghre Butte in Mesa co. at 9,000 feet in July. No arrival dates 
for Colorado appear to be recorded, but Goss states that they reach 
Kansas at the end of March or beginning of April, and leave before 
the middle of September. 
Habits.—The Purple Martin is a much-welcomed and 
familiar harbinger of spring in the east, where bird- 
houses are put out for them in the hope that they may 
be tempted to remain and breed. But in the wilder 
regions they resort to the holes of Woodpeckers, or to 
natural cavities in the trees, to nest and rear their young. 
Morrison states that at Fort Lewis they nested in hollow 
trees, or in the latticed ventilators of the barracks. 
They are noisy birds, keeping up a constant chattering, 
especially early in the morning, and their attempt at 
song, though not very musical, is quite pleasing. Like 
other Swallows their food is taken on the wing exclusively, 
and consists of insects, especially the larger kinds of 
beetles. 
* This statement rests on the evidence of Miss Myra Eggleston and is controverted 
by Sullivan (Rockwell 08). 
