Common Gallinule

Gallinula galeata

The Common Gallinule is a fun bird that loves to swim and walk around wetlands. It has a colorful body and a funny, loud call that sounds like a squeaky toy!

Habitat: Wetlands

Appearance

The Common Gallinule is a medium-sized water bird with a slate-gray body, a striking bright red frontal shield extending onto its yellow-tipped bill, and a distinct white stripe along its flanks. Its long, greenish-yellow legs lack webbing, setting it apart from true coots.

KingdomAnimaliaPhylumChordataClassAvesOrderGruiformesFamilyRallidaeGenusGallinula

Common Gallinule

Interesting facts

Despite their long toes, they are excellent swimmers, paddling their unwebbed feet rapidly.

Gallinules make a loud "krrruck" call, sounding like a chicken clucking near the water.

Its babies have a tiny claw on their wing, like a dinosaur, to help them climb!

They build floating nests anchored to plants, rising and falling with water levels.

Special abilities

Common Gallinule has super long toes and unwebbed feet that help them walk right on top of floating lily pads and plants.

Common Gallinule can dive underwater for up to 30 seconds because of its strong leg muscles, helping them hide from predators.

Common Gallinule uses a unique head-bobbing motion that helps them signal intentions to other gallinules, especially during courtship.

Measurements & details

Length: 30-38 cm
Wingspan: 50-60 cm
Weight: 0.2-0.5 kg
Lifespan: 2-9 years
Top Speed: 50 km/h
Clutch Size: 5-8
Incubation: 19-22 days
Migration Distance: 2500 km

Diet & Feeding

These omnivores eat a mix of plants, insects, and small aquatic creatures!

Age differences: Young gallinules eat more insects for protein to help them grow quickly.

Primary Foods

Aquatic plants
Seeds
Insects
Small fish
Worms

Foraging Method

Foraging

Ecological connections

eaten by

Bald Eagle

Haliaeetus leucocephalus

Large raptors prey on adult gallinules and their chicks.

eats

Largemouth Bass

Micropterus salmoides

Large fish often eat gallinule eggs and young chicks.

depends on

Cattail

Typha latifolia

Dense cattails provide crucial nesting and hiding cover.

Traits

Webbed Feet

Characterized by having toes connected by a membrane, typically aiding in swimming.

Social

Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring.

Omnivorous

This trait identifies organisms whose diet includes both plant and animal matter.

Colorful

Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors.

Wetland

This habitat trait identifies species found in wetlands, which are areas of land saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally, including marshes, swamps, and bogs.