Are my birds PM or TS?

[PMS in Virginia]

First a brief history to help explain my situation:

I have had one pair of TS at my single gourd sight just off the Blue Ridge Parkway in VA for many years. Hoping to attract PMs, this year I placed a 4 gourd rack at one point of the triangle with TS & BB housing at the other two points. All spring, until now, the TS did their thing and now have young that look to about half grown. The BB have come and gone. There was no activity at the PM housing early on while the TS and BB were building at their respective sites.

Yesterday, June 9, while visiting our mountain hide-away there was much activity at all three housing spots. The TS were busy feeding their young. Getting very excited, what I thought may have been PM were going in and out of the 4 gourd complex. It appeared the birds were settling in with the female going, repeatedly, to the ground in the nearby gravel driveway and returning to two different gourds. TS were going in and out of the BB house as well. Lots of activity.

Here-to-fore I was under the impression that TS would not allow other TS around. After reading the forum I am now thinking my excitement for PM are actually TS moving in. Could it be the reason for new TS moving in is because the established TS are so busy feeding their young, they just don't care if other TS are nearby. Is it not too late for TS to build their nest? If the new comers are, indeed, TS I am thinking to block the 4 gourd rack so they will now establish that sight expecting to return there again next year.....comments, please!

[randyM]

How far apart are each of your housing units in your triangle? Do the birds using your gourds have pure snow-white bellies, or are their bellies somewhat "dirty" looking? If the bellies of both birds are pure white, you probably have a second pair of nesting tree swallows. If the bellies are dirty-looking and the birds are slightly larger than the nesting TS you may have a pair of second year PM. Vocalizations of TS and PM are quite distinctly different. If you walk beneath your gourd rack when the birds are present, they should emit some type of vocalization....if they are PM usually a cheer, cheer, cheer, cheer sound if they rapidly take flight, or a gargling throaty call if they remain perched on the housing. The TS vocalizations are more like rapid chattering and ticking sounds (Cornell Lab of Ornithology or Audubon bird guide website have pictures and vocal recordings of both species). TS can become more preoccupied and less territorial towards other TS when they are feeding young, so it is possible to have TS nesting closer together than typical (within 100 feet of each other) especially when one pair is feeding young and the other is just beginning nest building. TS sometimes do raise a second brood, so it is possible a second pair of TS has moved into your area either to raise a second brood, to renest from a previously destroyed nest, or it could be a young pair getting a late start. The most important thing for you to do now is to try to positively ID the birds using your gourd rack before you plug any holes and force them to move on. It would be unfortunate if you had a pair of SY PM and mistakenly forced them to leave.

[flyin-lowe]

Best thing to do is to watch any youtube video on purple martins. Once you hear their vocalization you won't forget it and you won't mistake it for any other birds.

[John & Linda - KY]

If you have round entrance holes the birds may be starlings. Do they have yellow, dagger-type beaks? If so, they need to be eliminated and you need to consider starling resistant entrances. -- John

[PMS in Virginia]

Thanks folks. Your comments have been helpful. I am familiar with TS & PM vocalization since the TS have been at the site for years. Previously, I was blessed to have PMs at my regular home for a few years before snakes and hawks took their toll. This makes 4 years now w/o PMs here.
The vocalization of the birds moving in is leading me to believe they are TS. (Would the young PM vocal sounds resemble TS a little?) Having said that, I must take another look when I am there again next week. The female did have more of a gray breast than the bright white TS of which I am used to seeing.

The birds are definitely not skumbeaks....I have taken care of enough of them to know what they look like.

Thanks again for your comments......you have been of help.

[randyM]

Good luck. Keep us posted as to what you verify for species next week.