Purple Martin
Progne subis
With an average length of 20 cm (7.9 in) and a wingspan of up to 38 cm (15 in), the purple martin is the largest amongst the 90 odd species in the family Hirundinidae. Measurement ranges: Length: 7.5–7.9 in (19–20 cm) Weight: 1.6–2.1 oz (45–60 g) Wingspan: 15.3–16.1 in (39–41 cm) Purple martins are sexually dimorphic. Adult males are entirely black with a glossy steel blue sheen, the only swallow in North America with such coloration. Adult females are dark on top with some steel blue sheen, and lighter underparts. Adults have a slightly forked tail.
ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0
Southern Martin
Progne elegans
The southern martin is 17 to 20 cm (6.7 to 7.9 in) long. The sexes are dimorphic though both have a deeply forked tail. Adult males are almost entirely glossy steel-blue with blacker wings and tail. Females have duller steel-blue upperparts than males. Their underparts are mostly dusky brown with paler feather edges that give a scaly appearance; their undertail coverts are white with dusky streaks. Juveniles resemble adult females. Voice: The southern martin's song is "a short gurgle"; it also makes "a harsh contact call and an alarm call".
ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0
Where you might meet both
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Play today's Daily BirdPhotos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: Purple Martin and Southern Martin.