Help me identify my visitor

Guest · Mon May 30, 2011 1:11 pm

Have been trying to start a colony for four years. There is an existing colony about 1/2 mile away which has maybe 8 - 10 martins. Over the past week, I had a pair visit, then what seemed to be the entire other colony visiting for about 5 minutes. None of them landed either time but they swooped low and checked things out.

The past two days, this lone individual has visited at least twice a day and has landed on both my martin house and gourd rack. He/she has checked many of the cavities. I am 99% certain this is an SY, but I'm having trouble determining male or female. When flying away, there were three chirps heard, but I had the camera off and only caught the last one. Opinions?

Please review the video here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E2Z8ExpLRyo

Thanks!

Dennis D · Mon May 30, 2011 1:17 pm

Can't watch the vid from work but I would venture to say it is a sub male. It sounds interested in your site and probably will continue to try and lure a female to your place. That's how it normally starts. Good Luck!

Mary Dawnsong · Mon May 30, 2011 1:54 pm

I think that's an SY male. I believe I see purple blotches on his underside in the video, but hard to determine the color. I must say that for an SY male he does not have very advanced plumage. I can understand your frustration identifying him. He sort of looks like an ASY female. Definitely not an SY female

This older PMCA Update Magazine article should help you with IDs:
http://purplemartin.org/update/Tattletails11(4).pdf

As Dennis stated, SY male is the most likely candidate for that kind of behavior at this time of the season.

Good luck!

flyin-lowe · Mon May 30, 2011 2:10 pm

I think the same as you Mary. That one darker spot in the middle of the breast is sometimes present in females, it is evident in the pics on the PMCA's home page. I have seen SY males with only a few dark spots but more times then not they have more spots that are more randomly placed.

Guest · Mon May 30, 2011 3:15 pm

Thanks so much for the help. I have updated the video description on YouTube to indicate he is a Male SY for anyone else that might be searching there.

Anyone else, please feel free to comment. It is very much appreciated!

Guest · Mon May 30, 2011 4:30 pm

He just came back and brought two friends! He landed but they just flew around. Stayed 5 minutes and all gone again. I think it must be late feeding time? 5PM here.