Birdsong field guide
Sinaloa Martin
Progne sinaloae
The Sinaloa Martin is a rare, large swallow endemic to the mountain forests of western Mexico, characterized by the male's striking contrast between glossy dark plumage and a white lower belly.
What it sounds like
A series of rich, liquid gurgles and low-pitched 'tchew' notes, similar to a Purple Martin but often described as more hurried.
Reference call, compare with what you heard
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Field notes
- It is morphologically very similar to the Caribbean Martin, but is geographically separated by the entire width of the Gulf of Mexico.
- Unlike the common Purple Martin, this species rarely uses artificial nest boxes, preferring natural cavities in tall pine or oak snags.
- It is a long-distance migrant, though its specific wintering grounds in South America remain one of the great mysteries of Neotropical ornithology.
- The species is listed as Vulnerable by the IUCN due to its small, fragmented population and the loss of mature forest habitat.
- Males are distinguished from male Purple Martins by their snowy-white bellies and undertail coverts, which contrast sharply with their iridescent blue-black chests.
Habitat
High-altitude pine-oak and montane evergreen forests, often near cliffs and canyons.
Range
Breeds in the Sierra Madre Occidental of western Mexico (Sinaloa to Michoacán); winter range is largely unknown but likely South America.
Similar & commonly confused birds
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