| Common Gallinule (Gallinula galeata (Lichtenstein, 1818)) |
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Scientific name: Gallinula galeata (Lichtenstein, 1818) Common name: Common Gallinule French name: Gallinule d'Amérique Order: Gruiformes Family: Rallidae Size: Body size: 32 to 35 cm, Weight: 310 to 460 g; Wingspan: 54 to 62 cm. Habitat: Small lakes, ponds, canals, marshes with dense vegetation. Food: Aquatic plants, grasses, leaves, molluscs, insects, worms, sometimes fish and tadpoles. Nesting: The nest is a platform or shallow cup at the water's edge. There are one or two clutches per year, of 5 to 8 eggs, during a period which depends on the latitude. Migration: Populations in regions with freezing water, such as southern Canada and parts of the United States, move to more temperate areas in winter. Geographic area: America except polar regions and tropical rainforests. |
The Common Gallinule, previously considered as a subspecies of the Common Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus) is now considered a separate species since 2011. It has a bright red frontal shield and a bright red bill tipped with yellow. The frontal shield is larger and squarer in shape than on the Common Moorhen. Its plumage ranges from dark blue to black, with brown wings and a white rump patch. Its legs are green-yellow and not webbed. The chicks have an area of red skin on the head. There are seven subspecies. Let's mention Gallinula galeata cerceris found in the West Indies. This subspecies is characterized by black upperparts and fairly long bill and toes. |
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This Common Gallinule was observed during the visit to the gardens of the Habitation Clément. You can clearly see the large red front shield. |
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Here is a closer view. This is most certainly the Gallinula galeata cerceris subspecies since it is the one found in the West Indies. I will have to come back to try to observe the length of the toes. |
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Here is a picture on which the toes are partially visible. They seem quite long to me but I am not experienced enough to judge in relation to the other subspecies. |
André Bon December 2023