purple martins are aerial insectivores, meaning that they catch insects from the air. the birds are agile hunters and eat a variety of winged insects. rarely, they will come to the ground to eat insects. they usually fly relatively high, so, contrary to popular opinion, mosquitoes do not form a large part of their diet. recent research, however, does indicate that the purple martin feeds on invasive fire ants (solenopsis invicta) and that they may make up a significant portion of their diet.