A number of books are listed below that can be used for reference sources but realize that they have been around for a while and current research sheds newer information about purple martins that can be retrieved from the internet. Housing requirements, for the most part, are outdated, so you’ll just have to use some common sense when reading them and apply the newer standards for keeping martins and everything will be just fine. 

Stokes Purple Martin Book, by Donald and Lillian Stokes & Justin Brown.  This is the complete guide to attracting and housing Purple Martins.

How to Attract Birds, by Ortho Books

A Purple Martin Journey , 2022,6×9 in. 208 pp., by Andrew M. Troyer

What You Should Know About Purple Martins, by J.L. Wade, The Nature Society, Griggsville, IL 62340

Attracting Purple Martins, also by J.L. Wade, The Purple Martin, by R.B. Layton, Nature Book Publishers, P.O. Box 115, Valley Lee, MD 20692

Enjoying Purple Martins More, by Richard A Wolinski
How To Control Sparrows, by Don Grussing

The Purple Martin, by Richard A. Wolinski, 1994: Birdwatcher’s Digest Press.  Available from Birdwatcher’s Digest.  33 pages, color photographs.

PURPLE MARTINS “400” QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS: Chris Slabaugh Sr. 1994, 208 pages, black and white…

Stoll’s Purple Martins: Victor Stoll is host to America’s largest recorded purple martin colony of well over 600 pairs. Victor has been writing this book nearly all his life. Beautifully illustrated with outstanding color photos throughout the entire book, it’s an interesting and informative read about “America’s most wanted bird,” purple martins.

The Purple Martin, 2002, 5 1/2 x 9 in. 104 pp., 16 colors, and 4 b&w illus., 4 maps   By Robin Doughty and Rob FergusThe Purple Martin, How Citizen Scientists and Colony Landlords Are Saving a Favorite Bird 2016, 175 pp.,  By Robin Doughty and Rob Fergus

“My Best Nest,” a children’s picture book, is filled with vibrant and active illustrations that allow the reader to follow a mother Purple Martin swallow during her first day of nest building. This entertaining and educational story told in rhyme starts with vibrant dawn and ends with a bird’s gaping yawn. A short natural history section is included for parents, grandparents, and teachers. Readers familiar with this avian species will be delighted to have a children’s picture book on this popular backyard songster and aerialist. All proceeds from sales of the book “My Best Nest: A Purple Martin Story” by non-profit organizations will go to benefit migratory songbird conservation. You can buy this book at Purple Martins R’ Us.

Building Purple Martin Houses,1999, by Nancy Ringer/Storey Country Wisdom Bulletin, 32 pages, black and white.

Helping Orphaned or Injured Wild Birds, 1999, by Diane Scarazzini,/Storey Country Wisdom Bulletin, 32 pages, black and white.