The common Gallinule (Gallinula galeata) is a medium-sized water bird found in marshy wetlands across much of North and South America. It belongs to the rail family Rallidae. Some key facts about the common Gallinule:
Quick Facts
- Scientific Name: Gallinula galeata
- Other Names: Common Moorhen, Common Waterhen
- Size: 12-15 inches long, wingspan of 20-24 inches
- Weight: 7-16 oz
- Coloring: Slate-gray body, blackish head with white stripes, yellow tip on red bill
- Diet: Omnivorous, eats insects, aquatic plants/seeds, small fish
- Habitat: Freshwater marshes and ponds with dense vegetation
- Range: Widespread from Canada through Central America and the Caribbean
- Conservation Status: Least Concern
Identification
The common Gallinule is a plump waterbird with a slate-gray body, blackish head with a bright red frontal shield on its forehead. It has white stripes on its flanks and undertail. Its long toes have lobes that allow it to walk on floating vegetation. The common Gallinule swims buoyantly and can dive underwater. Its bill is red with a yellow tip. Juveniles are duller in color than adults.
To identify a common Gallinule, look for:
- Blue-gray body and darker gray head
- Bright red bill with yellow tip
- White stripes on flanks
- Ability to swim and walk on floating vegetation
- Lobes on toes
The common Gallinule can be confused with the closely-related purple Gallinule, which has more purple and blue in its plumage. The moorhen species found in Europe, Asia and Africa is also similar. Pay attention to location as well as field marks when identifying Gallinules.
Behavior
Common Gallinules are very social and live in small groups. They are active during the day, spending much of their time foraging in shallow water or dense vegetation. They walk gracefully, sometimes nodding their heads. Common Gallinules can be territorial during breeding season. They communicate with a variety of grunts, growls and high-pitched notes.
These birds swim well and can also dive underwater to forage. They sometimes gather material to build a nest on the water. Common Gallinules have very long toes and can walk on top of floating vegetation. They fly short distances with their feet hanging down.
Habitat and Range
The common Gallinule lives in marshes, ponds, lakes and other wetlands with dense stands of aquatic vegetation. This serves as cover and a food source. They prefer shallow freshwater habitats. Common Gallinules can be found from southern Canada through parts of the United States down into South America. Their range includes:
- Most of North America from Canada to the Gulf of Mexico
- Parts of Central and South America
- Caribbean islands such as Cuba, Jamaica, and the Bahamas
Within this wide range, common Gallinules occur as both year-round residents and seasonal migrants. They live across a variety of wetlands, including prairie potholes, freshwater marshes, ponds, wet fields and rice paddies.
Diet
Common Gallinules are omnivores and very opportunistic foragers. Their diet includes a wide variety of plant and animal material. They feed while walking slowly through shallow wetlands or swimming. Their diet includes:
- Insects and other invertebrates
- Tadpoles and small fish
- Aquatic plants and seeds
- Algae
- Grains and rice
This varied diet allows common Gallinules to thrive across many different freshwater habitats. They use their pointed bill to pick food items from the water or probe in muddy areas. Common Gallinules swallow larger food items whole.
Breeding
Common Gallinules breed in shallow wetlands across their range. The breeding season lasts from May to August in the northern part of the range, and can begin as early as March in the south. Males establish breeding territories and attract females with loud calls.
The nest is a cup built from available wetland vegetation, attached to thick vegetation or flooded debris. Nest building is a cooperative effort by both the male and female. Females lay 5-10 eggs at a rate of 1 per day. The eggs are buff colored with small brown spots.
Incubation lasts 19-25 days and is performed by both parents. The precocial chicks hatch covered in black down and leave the nest soon after hatching. Parents brood and feed the young chicks until they fledge at 6-8 weeks old. Common Gallinules may raise two broods per season.
Population and Conservation
The common Gallinule has an extremely large range and stable global population. Its total population is estimated at 1.3 to 1.7 million individuals. Common Gallinules are not currently at risk of extinction. They are classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
These birds adapt readily to human-altered wetlands, including rice paddies and artificial ponds. They can thrive even in small wetlands in urban and suburban areas.While not globally threatened, common Gallinule numbers have declined in parts of their range due to wetland loss and degradation. Protecting wetland habitats across North and South America is key to conservation of this widespread waterbird.
Fun Facts
Here are a few interesting facts about the charismatic common Gallinule:
- Chicks have a red bill and frontal shield, turning orange-red as juveniles before getting the adult coloring.
- Common Gallinules sometimes gather nest material by swimming along with weeds piled on their back.
- These birds swim with their head tilted upward so they can see above vegetation.
- They are sometimes called “mudhens” due to foraging in muddy wetlands.
- Common Gallinules have very long toes and can run atop floating vegetation.
- They were hunted as game birds in the past, with a reputation for good eating.
- Common Gallinules are considered rail family “lightweights” due to being smaller than many other rail species.
Where to See in the Americas
The common Gallinule’s wide distribution and use of freshwater wetlands mean they can be seen across much of the Americas if you know where to look. Some top spots include:
- Everglades, Florida – Shallow wetlands and marshes throughout this national park provide excellent habitat.
- Cheyenne Bottoms, Kansas – A prime midwest wildlife viewing spot, with hundreds during migration.
- High Island, Texas – Up to 300+ common Gallinules pass through this migratory hotspot.
- Veracruz River of Raptors, Mexico – Hundreds of thousands of birds migrate along this flyway.
- Llanos wetlands, Colombia – Vast seasonally flooded savanna with ideal conditions.
- Western Pantanal, Brazil – Abundant Gallinules in this wildlife-rich wetland.
Conclusion
In summary, the common Gallinule is a wide-ranging aquatic bird found across the Americas in freshwater marsh habitats. It has slate-gray plumage, a colorful bill and forehead shield, and long toes adapted to walking on vegetation. Common Gallinules are omnivorous and feed on a variety of plant and animal material. They build floating nests and have precocial young.
While not globally threatened, common Gallinule numbers have declined in some regions due to wetland loss and degradation. Protecting wetlands across their range is important to conserving this species. Birdwatchers can find common Gallinules year-round by looking in shallow, vegetated wetlands from Canada to Argentina.
