Bird: Purple Gallinule (Porphyrula martinica)

Height: 13"

Description: Deep royal blue head with garnet eyes; bill red with a yellow tip; length of bill proportionate to length of head. Light blue forehead shield. Feathers on wings, tail, and under parts are iridescent green and blue, resembling a peacock. Feet are oversized and brilliant yellow. Juvenile is more muted overall with green and blue tones mixed with golden-olive; lacks blue forehead shield. Immature plumage kept into first spring.

Voice: Chicken-like squawks, and a cackling similar to some calls made by the Common Moorhen. Audio is available at eNature.com.

Feeding: At Wakodahatchee, the favorite food of the Purple Gallinule is the blooms and buds of the Fireflag plant. I believe this is why the bird is so uncommonly prevalent. The Fireflag blooms are at the end of long, pliable stalks. The Purple Gallinule will tight-rope up, and ride the bloom stalks down to the surface of the water to get at the blooms.

Behavior at Wakodahatchee: Purple Gallinules spend the majority of their time foraging for food. I have seen them feeding in pairs but they are almost always solitary. They can support themselves on top of lilly-pads because of their long toes. Whether feeding or resting they always stay close to cover and will often avoid prolonged observation. It is especially entertaining to watch them climbing the Fireflag blooms. As the stalks droop, they use their wings to balance and will attempt all sorts of clumsy maneuvers in anticipation of a particularly juicy bloom.

Click here for more information on The Purple Gallinule from eNature.com

The best time to photograph Purple Gallinules at Wakodahatchee is in the summer. In July and August, they are so numerous that it is relatively common to see them walking along the handrails on the boardwalk. In the winter they are less numerous, and the larger number of visitors makes them more shy. Whenever you visit, it is worth the patience that may be required to see one. They are the most beautiful bird at Wakodahatchee, and, depending on taste, perhaps over a wider range.

Purple Gallinules are known for their precarious balancing acts. However, although beautiful, they are not nature's most graceful bird and often tumble awkwardly (and loudly) into the water while feeding.

This older juvenile Purple Gallinule was balancing on the stalk of a Fireflag bloom. Its mother was nearby, clucking nervously because I was too close, but the juicy blooms to the right were too much of a temptation.

This is an adult Purple Gallinule out of breeding season. Notice that the forehead shield becomes dull.