The common gallinule (Gallinula galeata) is a medium-sized waterbird that is closely related to moorhens and coots. This species has several other common names that it is known by apart from just “common gallinule”. In this article, we will explore the various other names that are used for this bird and discuss how they originated.
Alternative Common Names
Some of the most frequently used alternative common names for the common gallinule include:
- Moorhen
- Marsh hen
- Mud hen
- Water chicken
- Florida gallinule
While there are some regional variations, these names are all generally used to refer to the same species – the common gallinule. The use of these different common names often depends on geographical location and local dialects.
Moorhen
Moorhen is perhaps the most widely used alternate name for the common gallinule. In Europe, where this species is native, it is far more commonly referred to as the “common moorhen”. The term moorhen refers to the species’ tendency to live around moors and marshes. It is thought to derive from the Old English “morhen” which refers to land near marshes. Moorhen is used in many scientific texts and birding guides to refer to Gallinula galeata.
Marsh Hen
“Marsh hen” is a descriptive term, much like moorhen, that refers to the common gallinule’s marshy habitat. It is sometimes used in North America as an alternative name for the species. However, marsh hen can also less commonly refer to other marsh birds like rails or coots.
Mud Hen
“Mud hen” is a colloquial North American term for the common gallinule. It refers to the bird’s tendencies to live in muddy wetlands and have plumage that can look muddy or dirt-stained. Mud hen is sometimes used erroneously for the American coot as well, which occupies a similar ecological niche.
Water Chicken
The name “water chicken” likely refers to the common gallinule’s vaguely chicken-like appearance and its tendency to swim and walk on top of aquatic vegetation. Their small size and rounded profile gives them a resemblance to juvenile chickens. Water chicken may also refer to the fact that gallinules were reportedly eaten as food historically in some regions, as chickens sometimes are.
Florida Gallinule
The “Florida gallinule” name stems from the fact that these birds are found year-round and are very common in the wetlands of Florida. However, this name is taxonomically invalid since the species is found far beyond just Florida. Sometimes the name may lead to confusion between this species and the purple gallinule, which is also found in Florida but is much rarer.
Scientific Classification
The common gallinule belongs to the family Rallidae which includes rails, crakes, and coots. Their full scientific classification is:
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Chordata
- Class: Aves
- Order: Gruiformes
- Family: Rallidae
- Genus: Gallinula
- Species: G. galeata
There are two subspecies recognized:
- Gallinula galeata galeata – Northern subspecies
- Gallinula galeata cachinnans – Southern subspecies
They are very closely related to two other Gallinula species found in the Americas – the purple gallinule (Gallinula martinica) and the Azure gallinule (Gallinula flavirostra).
Identification
The common gallinule can be identified by the following key characteristics:
- Medium-sized waterbird about 12-15 inches long with a stubby rounded profile
- Bill is red with yellow tip
- Legs and feet are yellow
- Plumage is slate-gray overall with darker gray back
- White undertail coverts visible in flight
- White line down flank
- Chicks have black and orange striped plumage
In terms of distinguishing between the common gallinule and the other Gallinula species, the key differences are:
| Species | Distinguishing Characteristics |
|---|---|
| Common Gallinule | Yellow tip to red bill, white undertail coverts |
| Purple Gallinule | Bright purple-blue frontal shield, green legs |
| Aztec Gallinule | Pale yellow bill and legs, no white undertail |
Habitat and Range
The common gallinule can be found across a broad swathe of the Americas. Their range extends across:
- Large parts of the United States
- Southern Canada
- Mexico
- Central America
- The Caribbean
- Northern and central South America
It is absent from only some of the more arid parts of South America and the high Andes mountains. The common gallinule’s natural habitat consists of:
- Freshwater marshes
- Ponds
- Lakes
- Rivers
- Estuaries
- Reed beds and other wetland vegetation
They prefer shallow, slow-moving bodies of water with abundant emergent vegetation. Nests are built from plant material attached to vegetation near water. Though they do require fresh water, common gallinules can tolerate brackish water and will sometimes use saltwater marshes.
Range Map
The approximate range of the common gallinule is shown in the following map:
Image source: Birds of the World
Behavior and Diet
Common gallinules are highly aquatic birds that spend most of their time swimming and walking on floating vegetation. Their diet consists mainly of plants and seeds that occur near water. Some specific foods include:
- Grasses
- Sedges
- Cattails
- Lily pads
- Rice
- Algae
- Aquatic invertebrates
They use their frontal lobes on their feet to grasp vegetation and clamber through marshy areas. Common gallinules are shy and secretive except when defending nesting territories. They nest in concealed locations and prefer to escape out of sight rather than fly when disturbed. Their flight when necessary is labored with dangling legs.
Courtship and Breeding
Common gallinules breed in scattered freshwater wetlands across their range. Courtship involves the male puffing out his feathers and swimming in circles around the female while jerking his head back. Breeding occurs from March to October with peak months being May through July. The nest is a cup-shaped platform anchored to wetland vegetation.
Clutch size is 5-10 eggs which are buff colored with brown spotting. Incubation is 19-22 days and the precocial downy chicks are tended by both parents. Chicks fledge in about 9 weeks. Pairs may produce multiple broods in a season. The oldest recorded common gallinule was over 17 years old.
Population Status
According to the IUCN Red List, the common gallinule is classified as Least Concern. Its extensive range and large global population size means it is not currently vulnerable to extinction. Population trends are generally stable though some local declines have occurred, usually due to wetland destruction and degradation. Global population estimates indicate there are likely more than 5 million individual common gallinules in the world.
Threats
Some of the major threats facing common gallinule populations include:
- Wetland drainage and destruction
- Pollution and water quality deterioration
- Invasive species crowding out native plants
- Human disturbance through recreation or development
Protecting remaining wetlands across North and South America will be key to ensuring the common gallinule remains common well into the future.
Relationships to Humans
The common gallinule has an interesting relationship history with humans. In some regions they have been hunted for food and eggs, while in other areas they are simply viewed as a common wetland bird. Some key interactions include:
- Hunted as game in past centuries, no longer hunted commonly today
- Eggs collected historically, also no longer common
- Can be nuisance species to rice farmers in some areas
- Rarely kept as pets or display animals due to shy nature
- Sometimes featured in folklore, mythology, and art
While it may not receive as much cultural significance as more charismatic species, the common gallinule fills an important niche in wetland ecosystems across the Americas.
Conclusion
In summary, the common gallinule goes by several other common names such as moorhen, marsh hen, mud hen, and Florida gallinule. It is a widely distributed aquatic bird found across the Americas in freshwater marshes and ponds. The common gallinule has a varied diet of wetland plants and invertebrates and builds floating platform nests. While hunted historically in some regions, most human interactions with common gallinules today are simply viewing them as a component of local wetland environments.
