Common Gallinule
Gallinula galeata
The Common Gallinule is a familiar Florida marsh bird with a bright red bill and oversized toes built for wetland vegetation.
The Common Gallinule is a familiar Florida marsh bird with a bright red bill and oversized toes built for wetland vegetation.
A dark charcoal marsh bird with a bright red forehead shield, red bill tipped yellow, white flank stripe, and long yellow-green legs and toes.
Swims with a head-bobbing motion and walks across floating vegetation using its long toes. Families often remain together.
Safe around people. Do not feed birds or approach chicks and nests.
Protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. Do not remove active nests, eggs, chicks, or adults.
Habitat:
Freshwater Wetlands, Lakes and Ponds, Canals and Ditches
Area / Range:
Statewide
Diet:
Aquatic plants, seeds, algae, insects, snails, tadpoles, and small fish.
Behavior:
Swims with a head-bobbing motion and walks across floating vegetation using its long toes. Families often remain together.
Daytime, Dawn, Dusk
Active Times:
Best time to see:
Morning and evening around lily pads, cattails, and open marsh water
Florida Native Status:
Native
Conservation Status:
Least Concern
Safety Level:
Safe
Safety Information:
Safe around people. Do not feed birds or approach chicks and nests.
Benefits to Property:
Consumes aquatic vegetation and small animals while adding visible wildlife activity to ponds.
Property Concerns:
Loss of shoreline plants, polluted runoff, fishing line, and free-roaming pets reduce habitat quality.
Fun Fact:
Newly hatched chicks are black and fuzzy with colorful red-and-blue skin on the head.
Wildlife Laws:
Protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. Do not remove active nests, eggs, chicks, or adults.
Identification:
A dark charcoal marsh bird with a bright red forehead shield, red bill tipped yellow, white flank stripe, and long yellow-green legs and toes.