Alternative names: American Purple Gallinule, Yellow-legged Gallinule
- Porphyrio martinicus
Disambiguation: For the species Porphyrio porphyrio, formerly often called Purple Gallinule, see Western Swamphen
Identification
Length 27-36 cm, wingspan 50-55 cm, weight 140-300 g
Red bill with yellow tip, head and underparts deep violet-purple, back bronzy green, pale blue forehead shield, and white band on the flanks. The legs are yellow, very conspicuous in flight. Immatures are drab brown, dark above and pale below; no side stripe; dark bill.
Distribution
Southeastern USA to northern Argentina; also found in the West Indies.
Taxonomy
A monotypic species.
The South Georgia Gallinule, once described as an independent species Porphyrula georgica, was later shown to just be an aberrant Purple Gallinule, and as such is an invalid taxon, now considered synonymous with Porphyrio martinica1.
Habitat
Lives in freshwater swamps, marshes, and ponds.
Behaviour
Swims, wades, and climbs bushes. When walking, it flirts white undertail coverts; when swimming, pumps head. Voice is a henlike cackling "kek, kek, kek" given while flying; also guttural notes.
References
- Meyer de Schauensee, Rodolphe. 1966. The Species of Birds of South America and Their Distribution. Narberth, PA: Academy of Natural Sciences.
