Female? with a white breast

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daltonmissouri
Posts: 37
Joined: Sat Jun 25, 2016 2:16 pm
Location: Perryville, MO

Today several new pairs arrived, and one of them----I assume it was a female----had a snow-white breast. All of the females I've seen in the past have gray or light-gray breasts, but I've never seen one pure white like that. She? was with a mature male. Has anybody else seen this?
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ToyinPA
Posts: 2227
Joined: Mon Apr 10, 2006 6:07 pm
Location: PA/Avis
Martin Colony History: The 1972 St. Agnes flood wiped out all the Martins in my area. One day, in 1997-98, 5 or 6 Martins landed on the power wires crossing my back yard. I had no house for them. They kept coming back day after day. We got a martin house a few weeks later & they have been coming back every year since. I average 12-15 pair per year.

Yes I've had sub-females with a snow white breast before.

Toy in PA
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daltonmissouri
Posts: 37
Joined: Sat Jun 25, 2016 2:16 pm
Location: Perryville, MO

Thanks, I didn't know if it was that unusual. It was the first one I had ever seen.
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flyin-lowe
Posts: 3788
Joined: Wed Mar 29, 2006 8:49 am
Location: Indiana/Henry Co.

Any chance it was a tree swallow mixed in with the martins?
2026 HOSP 26
2025 62 pair HOSP 20
2024 60 pair, HOSP 44
2023 60+ pair, HOSP 8
2022 60 nests with 262 eggs, HOSP 14
2021 62 pair, HOSP 9
2020 42 nest, HOSP 8
2019- 31 pair
2018- 15 pair 49 fledged
2017 3 SY pair, 12 eggs , fledged 10. 4 additional lone SY's
2016 1 pair fledged 4
2015 Visitors
2014 Visitors
2013 Moved 6 miles, 1 pair fledged 2.
2012 30 pair fledged 100.
2011 12 pair 43 fledged.
2010 5 pair 14 fledged.
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ToyinPA
Posts: 2227
Joined: Mon Apr 10, 2006 6:07 pm
Location: PA/Avis
Martin Colony History: The 1972 St. Agnes flood wiped out all the Martins in my area. One day, in 1997-98, 5 or 6 Martins landed on the power wires crossing my back yard. I had no house for them. They kept coming back day after day. We got a martin house a few weeks later & they have been coming back every year since. I average 12-15 pair per year.

daltonmissouri wrote: ↑
Fri Apr 14, 2023 5:56 pm
 Thanks, I didn't know if it was that unusual. It was the first one I had ever seen.
We actually called her Snow White due her her white chest/belly area. Tree Swallows have a bluish/green color, so if it's not them then it's a Sub-female with white chest/belly area.

Toy in PA
PMCA Member
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Martintown33
Posts: 1366
Joined: Tue Jun 01, 2021 6:21 pm
Location: Laplace,La
Martin Colony History: Colony started in 1998. 2 s&k modified houses and gourd rack

Second year females, have a much lighter chest, than asy females..
Rob
PMCA member
Laplace, La
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Spiderman
Posts: 991
Joined: Thu Jan 31, 2008 9:19 am
Location: Gladewater, Texas

ToyinPA wrote: ↑
Fri Apr 14, 2023 4:38 pm
 Yes I've had sub-females with a snow white breast before.

Toy in PA
Me too.
Colony started in 2002

Offering 82 Troyer Horizontal Gourds

2018 - 45 PAIR - FLEDGED 203 MARTINS
2019 - 68 PAIR - FLEDGED 268 MARTINS
2020 - 82 PAIR - FLEDGED 392 MARTINS
2021 - 78 PAIR - FLEDGED 349 MARTINS
2022 - 76 PAIR - FLEDGED 373 MARTINS
2023 - 68 PAIR - FLEDGED 355 MARTINS

*2023 Added 2”X4” wire cages to all three Troyer Gemini Gourd Racks to deal with Great Horned Owl predation on Colony.
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flyin-lowe
Posts: 3788
Joined: Wed Mar 29, 2006 8:49 am
Location: Indiana/Henry Co.

Never seen an adult with a pure white breast, I kinda guessed TS just based on the time of year. Not sure there are any SY's in MO yet.
2026 HOSP 26
2025 62 pair HOSP 20
2024 60 pair, HOSP 44
2023 60+ pair, HOSP 8
2022 60 nests with 262 eggs, HOSP 14
2021 62 pair, HOSP 9
2020 42 nest, HOSP 8
2019- 31 pair
2018- 15 pair 49 fledged
2017 3 SY pair, 12 eggs , fledged 10. 4 additional lone SY's
2016 1 pair fledged 4
2015 Visitors
2014 Visitors
2013 Moved 6 miles, 1 pair fledged 2.
2012 30 pair fledged 100.
2011 12 pair 43 fledged.
2010 5 pair 14 fledged.
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