Bird field guide · Swallows and Martins

Photographing the Purple Martin

How to photograph the Purple Martin (Progne subis): the right lens for its size, shutter speeds for perched and moving animals, and when it's most often seen (May and June).

12–20 cm1/3200–1/4000 s

12–20 cm

Typical length (family range)

1/1600 s

Shutter: perched / still

1/3200–1/4000 s

Shutter: action / flight

f/5.6–f/8

Aperture

30,472

Research-grade sightings in N. America

Recommended camera settings#

ModeManual + Auto ISOLock shutter & aperture, let ISO float

Shutter (still)1/1600 s

Shutter (action)1/3200–1/4000 s

Aperturef/5.6–f/8

FocusAF-C + subject/eye detectionSwallows and swifts are the hardest flight subjects — use wide tracking AF and shoot where they repeat a pattern.

DriveHigh-speed burst

Lens400–600 mmFull-frame equivalent

Focal length needed to frame it#

For a subject about 16 cm long filling a third or half of the frame width horizontally. Small birds demand long lenses and a close approach — a blind or feeder setup helps.

Distance	⅓ of frame (FF)	½ of frame (FF)	⅓ of frame (APS-C)	⅓ of frame (MFT)
5 m (16 ft)	346 mm	506 mm	230 mm	173 mm
10 m (33 ft)	691 mm	1,011 mm	461 mm	346 mm
15 m (49 ft)	1,037 mm	1,517 mm	691 mm	518 mm
20 m (66 ft)	1,382 mm	2,022 mm	922 mm	691 mm
30 m (98 ft)	2,074 mm	3,034 mm	1,382 mm	1,037 mm
50 m (164 ft)	3,456 mm	5,056 mm	2,304 mm	1,728 mm

When to find it#

Share of iNaturalist observations by month across North America. Peak months: May and June.

About the Purple Martin#

The purple martin (Progne subis) is the largest North American swallow. They are known for their speed and agility in flight, and when approaching their housing, will dive from the sky at great speeds with their wings tucked.

Summary adapted from Wikipedia via iNaturalist (CC BY-SA 4.0).

Field-craft tips#

Photograph at nest sites or over water where they hunt insects.
Swallows and swifts are the hardest flight subjects — use wide tracking AF and shoot where they repeat a pattern.
Sightings peak in May and June, which is when you'll have the most chances.

Ethics#

The welfare of the animal comes first: if it changes its behaviour because of you, you are too close.
Stay on trails, respect closures around nests, leks, dens and haul-outs.
Avoid playback and baiting in sensitive seasons; never bait predators.
Don't share precise locations of rare, nesting or roosting animals publicly.