English                   -             Common Gallinule 

 Portuguese          -              Frango-d’água-comum 

Latin                      -              Gallinula galeata 

The Common Gallinule (or Common Moorhen) is a Medium size, chicken-like marsh bird in the Rail family with an almost worldwide distribution. 

The Common Gallinule is a ground-dwelling water bird and is among the world’s most widespread bird species, being found in many wetlands across the globe. It is easily recognised by its vivid red shield and short, yellow bill, which sits in stark contrast to the dark-coloured plumage. From a distance the plump body appears bold black, but upon closer inspection it’s a more attractive olive-brown on the back, head and on its short wings, and grey on the underparts. The short legs and its long toes are bright yellow-green to yellow, and a white trim around the underside of its short tail is visible when the bird flicks its tail upwards. The male and female adult birds are similar in appearance. The juvenile birds have a brown to grey crown, neck and back, while the underparts are paler than those of the adult bird, with a whitish throat and belly. The Common Gallinule is an extremely vocal bird capable of producing a number of bizarre, distinctive sounds, including a variety of clucks and chattering calls. They can get up to 36 cm in length and weigh up to 450 gram.

The Common Gallinule is plentiful in North, Central, and South America as well as Eurasia, Africa, and Indonesia: These birds can be found in freshwater ponds, marshes, parks, and other public places where it can hide and feed among the reeds. It is less common in brackish or saltwater areas. Some Common Gallinule have been known to fly great distances, especially those in northern areas, which migrate south during the winter to find warmer temperatures. 

The Common Gallinule is an omnivorous species which feeds while walking on plants or while floating on the water. It swims across water, scooping up floating seeds and other materials from plants floating on the surface. It also dives to gather the seeds, leaves and roots of aquatic plants. On land it walks with a high-stepping gait and pecks at the ground like a chicken. It also eats algae, small fish, tadpoles, insects, berries, grass, snails, insects and worms.   

To find a mate the male Common Gallinule chases a female around on land, when excepted by the female they both stop, bow deeply and preen each other’s feathers. Other displays involve lowering head and raising tail, exposing white patches under the tail. The nest site is in marsh over shallow water, sometimes on the ground or in shrubs near water. The nest which is built by both sexes is a solidly constructed platform (or wide, shallow cup) of cattails, bulrushes, reeds; often has a ramp of similar material leading down to water. Similar platforms built nearby, may be used for resting or brooding. The female lays between 5-13 buff, irregularly spotted brown eggs. The eggs are incubated by both sexes for up to 22 days. The young can swim well shortly after hatching. The young are fed by both parents or sometimes by older siblings from earlier broods. Nestlings fledge after 6 weeks from hatching.  Common Gallinule can have up to 2 broods per year, rarely 3. 

The Common Gallinule has declined over parts of it’s range due to the loss of its natural habitat. It is still though a widespread species and may be locally common where good marsh habitat is found. Therefore it is considered a species “of Least Concern”.

Photos of the Common Gallinule were taken at Parque Barigui - Curitiba - Parana. Photo # 3 is of a Juvenile Common Gallinule.