Alternative name: Yellow-legged Gallinule
Disambiguation: For the species Porphyrio porphyrio, see Purple Swamphen
- Porphyrio martinica
Identification
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, dark above and pale below; no side stripe; dark bill.
Distribution
Southeastern US to northern Argentina; also found in the West Indies.
Taxonomy
A monotypic species.
South Georgia Gallinule, Porphyrula georgica1
Once described as an independent species, Porphyrula georgica, the South Georgia Gallinule, was later shown to just be an aberrant Purple Gallinule, and as such is considered synonymous with Porphyrio martinica.
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 gutteral notes.
