Common Gallinule
Gallinula galeata
Their extremely long toes distribute their weight, allowing them to walk across lily pads and floating vegetation without sinking.
- Scientific name
- Gallinula galeata
- Taxonomy
- Animalia › Chordata › Aves › Gruiformes › Rallidae › Gallinula
- IUCN Red List status
- Least Concern
- Population trend
- stable
- Biome
- wetland
- Habitat
- Freshwater marshes, ponds, canals, and lakes with dense emergent vegetation like cattails and bulrushes.
- Diet
- Omnivorous; feeds on aquatic plants, seeds, fruits, snails, and small insects.
- Range
- North America, Central America, South America, Caribbean Islands
- Size
- 30-35 cm in length, 310-450g in weight
- Lifespan
- 8-10 years
- Active
- diurnal
- Threats
- Wetland drainage, habitat fragmentation, water pollution, and lead poisoning from discarded fishing tackle.
- Safe to approach?
- Harmless and shy. Maintain a respectful distance of 15-20 feet to avoid startling the bird, especially during nesting season. If scratched or pecked while handling (only recommended for rescue), wash the area thoroughly with soap and water.
The common gallinule ( Gallinula galeata ) is a bird in the family Rallidae. It was split from the common moorhen by the American Ornithologists' Union in July 2011. It lives around well-vegetated marshes, ponds, canals, and other wetlands in the Americas. The species is not found in the polar regions or many tropical rainforests. Elsewhere, the common gallinule is likely the most commonly seen rail species in much of North America, excepting the American coot in some...
Photo: Gonzalo Zepeda Martínez, CC-BY-SA, via iNaturalist
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