Don't the bluebirds and purple martins like one another?

This is our first year with bluebird nest boxes. We put up two houses and thought we had a mating couple in each. The other day we noticed a purple martin at the opening of one of the houses. The martin didn't go inside, but sat at the opening chirping loudly. The bluebirds seem to be intimidated by them and I believe one house has been abandoned, although the bluebirds seem to sit on it and hunt from it. Since both breeds are insect eaters, are they intolerant of one another? Our neighbor has both martin houses and bluebird houses, and he said that his bluebirds had two broods last year, with bluebird and martin houses fully occupied.

Do you think between your houses and your neighbors they might be too close to one another?

Maybe you could tell us how far apart they all are from one another. :-)

I've always had martins and bluebirds that were fairly close and never noticed a problem. Beth

We have a big pasture and our neighbor's property is probably 1000' away. Our two nest boxes are at least 150' apart, and not in sight of one another. Maybe the martins are just curious. I did read on the bluebird organization internet site that tree swallows may use a bluebird box, but these are definitely martins. Thank you for your responses. I'll be reading your other postings on this forum. I see you are both experienced bluebirders and I need the education.

Naturally, I just put up a new Purple Martin house and bluebird house within 50-60' of each other. Oh well, guess I'll count myself lucky to get either.

We seldom see the Bluebirds here. They're 50 miles away in the Cascade Mtns. With any good luck I see the Purple Finch and Gold Finch daily. They're quite pretty. My evenings are enhanced when I see the Nighthawks swooping down to eat bugs and sometimes we'll spot bats of 2 sizes .... most are tiny ... like barn swallows but occasionally we'll see large bats that look like they're about 1 lb in weight. I'd never seen in my entire life a bat so large till this past year. Kelly in Moxee

I have bluebirds and purple martins in very close proximity. No problems whatsoever. I've never seen nor heard of a purple martin going near a house that was situated closer to the ground. And purple martins don't chirp. They have a gurgling sound that is very distinctive. Are you quite sure it wasn't a tree swallow - or perhaps a starling?