# 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! - **Category:** [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/bird) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 27 - **Habitat:** Wetlands - **Also known as:** Moorhen ![Common Gallinule](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Gallinula_galeata_NBII.jpg&width=800) Photo: Public domain · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Gallinula_galeata_NBII.jpg) ## 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. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Aves - **Order:** Gruiformes - **Family:** Rallidae - **Genus:** Gallinula ## 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 - **Lily Pad Walker:** Common Gallinule has super long toes and unwebbed feet that help them walk right on top of floating lily pads and plants. - **Underwater Escape Artist:** Common Gallinule can dive underwater for up to 30 seconds because of its strong leg muscles, helping them hide from predators. - **Head-Bob Communicator:** 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 - **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](https://www.snappit.app/explore/bald-eagle) (*Haliaeetus leucocephalus*) — Large raptors prey on adult gallinules and their chicks. - **Eats:** [Largemouth Bass](https://www.snappit.app/explore/largemouth-bass) (*Micropterus salmoides*) — Large fish often eat gallinule eggs and young chicks. - **Depends on:** [Cattail](https://www.snappit.app/explore/cattail) (*Typha latifolia*) — Dense cattails provide crucial nesting and hiding cover. ## Traits - [Webbed Feet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/webbed-feet): Characterized by having toes connected by a membrane, typically aiding in swimming. - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Omnivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/omnivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet includes both plant and animal matter. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Wetland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/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. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Freshwater](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/freshwater): Freshwater habitats include non-saline aquatic environments such as rivers, lakes, ponds, and wetlands, vital for numerous species. ## Collections - [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/birds) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always watch birds from a distance and don't try to touch or chase them. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Common Gallinule? Compare the silhouette, bill shape, tail length, wing bars and markings around the eyes. The same small brown bird at your feeder can look quite different in breeding plumage, winter plumage or its first year. Bird Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Common Gallinule? 30-38 cm ### What is Common Gallinule's wingspan? 50-60 cm ### How much does Common Gallinule weigh? 0.2-0.5 kg ### How long does Common Gallinule live? 2-9 years ### How fast can Common Gallinule move? 50 km/h ### What does Common Gallinule eat? These omnivores eat a mix of plants, insects, and small aquatic creatures! ### Where is Common Gallinule usually found? Wetlands ## Where to spot - [Allerton Garden](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/allerton-garden) — Hawaii, US · Botanical Garden - [Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/fairchild-tropical-botanic-garden) — Florida, US · Botanical Garden - [Harry P. Leu Gardens](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/harry-p-leu-gardens) — Florida, US · Botanical Garden - [Magnolia Plantation and Gardens (Charleston, South Carolina)](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/magnolia-plantation-and-gardens-charleston-south-carolina) — South Carolina, US · Botanical Garden - [National Tropical Botanical Garden](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/national-tropical-botanical-garden) — Hawaii, US · Botanical Garden - [Sonoma Botanical Garden](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/sonoma-botanical-garden) — California, US · Botanical Garden [View all places to see Common Gallinule](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/common-gallinule) ## More Birds - [Black-crowned Night Heron](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-crowned-night-heron) (*Nycticorax nycticorax*) - [Anna's Hummingbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/annas-hummingbird) (*Calypte anna*) - [Great Egret](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-egret) (*Ardea alba*) - [Blue Jay](https://www.snappit.app/explore/blue-jay) (*Cyanocitta cristata*) --- Source: [Common Gallinule: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-gallinule)