Purple Gallinule
The Purple Gallinule is one of the most colorful birds in North America. They are found in the southernmost part of the United States, along the coasts of Mexico, South America and throughout Central America. Interesting fact is they have shown up in Iceland, Switzerland, South Georgia Island, the Galápagos and South Africa.
Purple Gallinules hang out in dense freshwater wetlands. They can be fairly easy to spot as they walk on top of floating vegetation such as water lilies, lotus, water hyacinth and hydrilla. Even though they stick out because of their color, the green in their top feathers blends well with vegetation. We saw this single Purple Gallinule in Sweetwater Wetlands Park in Gainesville, Florida. It was foraging for frogs, invertebrates or tubers directly under the boardwalk which is unusual to see them this close up. Purple Gallinules are part of the rail family and is about the size of a chicken.
This is my first time participating in April Blogging from A-Z Challenge. As a birder and photographer, I will be sharing a new bird with you every day. I host a weekly photo challenge called Bird Weekly and would love for you to stop by anytime. Join in if that is your thing too.
23 responses to “A-Z Challenge – G is for GALLINULE”
It’s a cutie! ❤️
A colorful cutie! 🙂
It’s neat looking!
Hello🌷
Different than the coots and other gallinules (moorhens). Most colorful compared to the other rails. 🙂
What a pretty bird! 😊
Hello how are you doing there..
Good and yourself?
I’m doing well..I’m from Montgomery Alabama in USA what about you?..
It really is and was a real treat to have it that close. 🙂 It was our bird of the day and we got it right when we got to the park. We had seen it on the Ebird list. 🙂
So special! 😊
Yes it was! 🙂
Very pretty
The bird is gorgeous. 🙂
He will definitely brighten things up with that lovely purple colouring.
Oh yes! 🙂
What a beautiful bird! Purple is my favorite color too.
It’s my favorite color too! I use a purple pen when I write. It is such a girly color and I’m not that girly but I love it! 🙂
I echo J-Dub’s thoughts. I have never heard of this bird…
They are common down here in Florida, but scarce. The Common Gallinule is all over the place with the American Coots. I guess I should have put up a photo of the Common Gallinule AKA Common Moorhen. Put the Purple deserved the spotlight. 🙂
Purple is my go to color… 🙂
Woohoo! I write with a purple pen. LOL!
nice!