The sixth of our swallow species may be the most popular. This is the purple martin, which now depends almost exclusively on humans to provide nesting sites. Martins are finicky, however, and won't accept just any arrangement. They want to have a good field of view when they leave the nest, and so reject boxes placed to close to buildings or to trees. All of these birds are remarkably similar.
Martins are larger than the other species, and barn swallows have forked tails.
Separating the other species requires a good look at the markings of the bird, however, and this can be difficult, because swallows don't stand still. Probably the best way to get to know the swallows is to go to find their nesting sites. Each species has developed a specialized nesting routine, assuring each a niche different from the others. The one thing none of the swallows lack in July in the Red River Valley, however, is abundant food. The flying insects provide more than they can eat.