Sub Adult (SY) Male Purple Martin Identification 101

[Steve Kroenke]

Sub Adult (SY) Male Purple Martin Identification 101

Many folks, including myself, will sometimes experience difficulties in distinguishing SY male martins from both adult (ASY) and SY females based on plumage alone. Heck, some of those SY males are pretty good cross dressers and just looking at their clothing will not disclose the true gender. However, when plumage characteristics are too closely matched between a SY male and a female, then there are other methods of determining the sexual identity. Okay, are you ready to take a short course in SY Male Identification 101?

Plumage Characteristics

In many situations, there are definite plumage clues that will tell you immediately that the martin you are looking at is a SY male and not a female. SY males tend to have varying amounts of purple head, throat, flank and vent feathers, which are darker than the females. You may also see a sprinkling of purple feathers scattered about on the dull white or light gray breast area with some males having an almost half and half appearance. By half and half, I mean that the breastplate will contain a significant amount of purple feathering from the neck to about the middle of the torso. Then the rest will be the more typical dull white, light gray or grayish brown female coloration. It is interesting to see these varying stages of purple feathering in the SY males and may reflect differing maturation rates. Could the date in the breeding season when the SY male hatched have some impact? Would SY males hatched in March in South Florida be more inclined to have purpler feathering than males hatched in July in the upper mid-west or Canada when they return to breed the next year? Just something to think about.

Additionally, SY males often show slightly elevated crown feathers at times while the females' head plumage is smoother and flatter. The male's crown feathers often perk up some when he is "flirting" with a female.

So generally speaking, the SY males tend to have deeper purple feathering in certain body areas in contrast to the females, which have a preponderance of dull white, light gray or grayish brown. But feathering differences can sometimes be so subtle that you may have difficulties determining the gender of a SY martin based on plumage alone. You need more information and your ears will do the job where your eyes have failed.

Vocalizations

The male of nearly all songbirds is more vocal than the female. It is the male that establishes the territory and he defends this territory in part through various vocalizations. By vocalizing at another male to warn him to stay away, then the defender of the territory reduces the chances of physical contact with the intruder, thereby minimizing the possibilities of injury.

The signature call of the male purple martin, either ASY or SY, is the bubbly, gurgling vocalization that ends in the kriek sound. Only the male makes this call and this is one of the best ways of identifying a SY male that may be difficult to distinguish from a female due to similar feather coloration. This call is related to territorial establishment and defense and warns other males to keep their distance. It also may help reinforce the pair bonding between male and female in their territory. Males are generally more vocal than females for the most part, particularly while socializing around their nests, defending their territory and interacting with other martins. So if you hear the gurgling vocalization ending with the kriek, then you know for sure that SY martin is a male. No question here.

Behavior

Though vocalizations will usually identify the sex of a SY martin very easily, sometimes just the observing certain behaviors is almost as good. Male martins establish the territory. So if you have a SY martin that is hanging around the colony and is trying to claim a gourd or house compartment, then it is most likely a male. Females respond to males and review their territory but don’t initially establish it and then recruit a mate. If you see ASY males attack this SY martin as the martin tries to enter a cavity, then it is usually a male.

Male martins tend to be more animated around the colony as they are patrolling their territory and trying to attract females. Males take the lead in courtship behavior. Only males fly up into the sky and then lure female martins back down to the colony, not the other way around. The male will usually call loudly as he climbs up. Then in a magnificent undulating flying maneuver, he will dive rapidly down to his territory with his wings tight against his sides. This flight pattern serves to attract females and possibly warn other males to stay away. When he reaches his territory, he quickly enters the nest cavity. Males perform this diving technique when they are advertising their territory to potential mates and possibly threatening other male competitors.

Additionally, the males closely follow female martins either around the colony or high in the sky as they call to them and try to entice them down to their territory. The male’s flight seems more buoyant and bubbly as he flirts with the female in various enticing aerial maneuvers. He seems to fly with his chest expanded in a show of his masculinity as his wings beat in an almost circular motion. Males even try to make physical contact with the females. This is part of the male’s courtship and pair bonding behavior. The female is pursued and showered with attention by the male. The male is the chaser and the female is the one chased. During high-speed pursuits, only the males will sexually grapple with the females in a physical embrace and both will spiral downwards before finally separating. So if you see one gray martin pursuing another gray one through the colony or high in the sky, then the pursuer is most likely a SY male.

After a sexual attack on a female, the male will often assume a humped back physical posture and fly as if his body is curved downward in an almost crescent profile. Any SY martin exhibiting such physical characteristics is a male.

So, SY male martins can be distinguished from both ASY and SY females by plumage, vocalizations and behavior. SY males usually have more purple feathers in key body locations, particularly the head, throat and chest. Most revealing, only the males emit the bubbly vocalization that ends with the kriek sound. Any SY martin calling like that is a male. And SY males exhibit typical male martin behavior relative to territory establishment and chasing/courting females.

Now do you think you can identify a SY male from the females? And if that SY martin is one of those impossible to identify cross dressers, then see if the martin will gurgle for you. If there is a kriek, then you have a male.

Steve Kroenke

[Steve Kroenke]

I am re-activating an older posting of mine on SY male identification. Folks may find it of interest. SY males are now arriving in larger numbers in many areas of the United States.

Steve

[Steve Kroenke]

We saw our first SY male martin yesterday, March 25 and he was a "typical" one with a dark purple head and throat. He also was flying around looking at houses/gourds, but still timid at this time.

I am re-posting an older article dealing with some of my observations about SY male characteristics.

More SY males should be arriving in the Deep South soon.

Steve

[JRow]

Thanks! This is helpful.

[CapnJack]

Thanx - I've been spending the last few evenings trying to find SY's.
Why is finding the male SY's so important (especially on the scout arrival study)?

[JRow]

Thanx - I've been spending the last few evenings trying to find SY's.
Why is finding the male SY's so important (especially on the scout arrival study)?

I'm also trying to figure this out. The SYs should be in our area any day. For now, I'm assuming it's better to not report than post a false report.
I think the new landlords are very interested in when they might be able to attract a SY and watch the map...