Purple martins are lively, gregarious songbirds native to the U.S.. If you reside in the martins’ breeding range, that includes the eastern U.S. and Pacific Coast from Washington state to Mexico, along with elements of Arizona and Canada, hosting a purple martin colony is a rewarding, long-lasting endeavor. Purple martins have survived with people since Native American occasions and are now almost dependent on human-supplied housing. Even though purple martin houses are readily available for purchase, building your own martin house adds a second level of satisfaction. Whether you construct a martin “apartment house” or offer gourd-type homes, a key contributor to the achievement of your martin housing is the shade that you just paint it.
Paint It White
White is the preferred color for purple martin houses. White offers maximum reflection of sunlight, which keeps the interior of the house cool so that the birds can flourish and increase their young. It is possible to paint the trim, like the roof and the ledges under the doors, another color, but it’s not vital. If you reside in an area that gets high summertime temperatures, you should also paint the roof white.