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GALLINULE



GALLINULE CHARACTERISTICS

Long-toed legs
Frontal shield on forehead


GALLINULE INFORMATION

Gallinules are found in Trinidad.

Although relatively weak flying birds, many birds from this family travel long distances over water and land. They pump their heads back and forth when swimming and do the same with their tails when walking, showing the white underparts. Their long legs enable them to climb over the densest of reeds.

 Gallinule
The commonest groups of Gallinule are: The Purple Gallinule and the Common Gallinule.


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THE PURPLE GALLINULE

Purple Gallinule The Purple Gallinule is also known as the waterman, yellow legs, or blue nun. They swim and dive fairly well even though they do not have webbed feet - however they are able to do so for short distances only.

The Gallinule is long-lived - It can live up to 18 years in captivity. They are considered adults when they are about 2 years old- by this time they have gained their colour. They follow an elaborate courtship and usually pair for life.

Successfully and consistently bred at the Pointe-a-Pierre Wildfowl Trust.

 

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Habitat

The Purple Gallinule can be found 
in rice fields, freshwater, 
marshes and ponds, as long as there 
is plentiful vegetation around.

Voice

Voice is a hen-like cackle

 

Food

Seeds, grass, rootlets, soft parts 
of water plants, snails, grasshoppers,
frogs and other aquatic insects.

 

Size

Wing Length : Approximately 100 mm
Weight : 200 grams

Main Predator

These beautiful little birds are hunted and eaten.

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THE COMMON GALLINULE

The Common Gallinule is similar to the Purple Gallinule, except for the colour - the Common Gallinule being slate grey and brown with a red bill and forehead (frontal shield), yellow-green feet and white feathers on the sides of their tails (undertail all white). Spends much time swimming on open water.

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Last updated on 2003-04-09 .  Questions, comments, suggestions - may be forwarded to the Webmaster