Overview
The adult purple gallinule has big yellow feet, purple-blue plumage with a green back, and red and yellow bill. It has a pale blue forehead shield and white undertail. Darkness or low light can dim the bright purple-blue plumage of the adult to make them look dusky or brownish, although the forehead shield color differentiates them from similar species such as common gallinules.
Taxonomy
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Bird
- Family
- Rallidae
- Genus
- Porphyrio
- Species
- martinicus
Habitat
Warm and tropical swamps and marshes.
Diet
The nest is a floating structure in a marsh. Five to ten eggs, buff with brown spots, are laid. American purple gallinules are omnivorous; their diet includes a wide variety of plant and animal matter, including seeds, leaves and fruits of both aquatic and terrestrial plants, as well as insects, frogs, snails, spiders, earthworms and fish.
Behavior
The purple gallinule is a highly territorial bird. They breed in thick marshes and rice fields and are monogamous.
Hunting
More information needed.
Conservation Status
Listed as Least Concern by IUCN.