The Common Gallinule is one of the most common wetland birds in our area of the southeastern U.S., and they are very prolific. They have 1-2 broods a year, and each clutch can have as many as 3-15 eggs (All About Birds).
Formerly known as the Common Moorhen, this member of the Rail family is closely related to the Purple Gallinule. In fact, Purple and Common Gallinule chicks are nearly identical when very young, with distinguishing features becoming more visible as they develop (Audubon).
After the Common Moorhen chicks have hatched, with their bald heads, bulging eyes, and tiny wings, they are uncommonly cute to watch as they follow their parents around, learning to forage for themselves.
Birder's Journey 
Wow!!! How sweet, absolutely stunning pictures and the videos!! I can even hear them. A lovely post!!!
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Thanks so much, Anita! I’m glad you got to hear their sweet little peeps!
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Awesome! Love these pictures!
Yishai Rasowsky Mobile: (972) 54-848-2245 Home: (972) 54-751-6040 Ask the Kollel https://www.dafyomi.co.il/askollel.htm | Jewish Educational Broadcasting https://jewisheducationalbroadcasting.wordpress.com/
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Thanks, Yishai! I love these little puff balls.
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How cute!!!
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I love their little peeping sounds, too. So much cuter than their adult squawky sounds 😉
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Fantastic shots, Carol. By the way I live in Florida now, I bought a house in Ocala, FL. 🙂
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Thanks HJ! Wow, congrats on your move!! You’re closer to many of our favorite birding spots than we are now! ☀️🌴
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A few years ago we had the opportunity of watching a moorhen chick growing up, visiting their “family pond” regularly every few days. The speed at which it grew was amazing!
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Yes, it is!! How special that you had one as a visitor!
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Very nice tribute to a “common” bird!
The young gallinules remind me of floating Brillo pads. Except cuter.
Love your photographs!
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Thanks, Wally. These guys too often get overlooked. I agree with you – Brillo pads, but softer.☺️
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Great captures and what fun shots and video of this entertaining bird, Carol! The look of the little ones always makes me smile.
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Me too, Ellen.☺️ thanks!!
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Interesting post and lovely photos. We don’t see them here.
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I’m sure I never knew they existed till I moved to Florida!
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I really enjoyed your photos and the videos. How lovely to see the eggs in the nest and then the chicks foraging.
After reading your post, I have followed up on the name Common Moorhen and learnt that the Old World Common Moorhen we get here (Gallinula chloropus) has been split from the New World Gallinula galeata. For one thing their calls are very different.
And I also learnt that what I have referred to as a Purple Gallinule here (Porphyrio madagascariensis) is actually an African Swamphen, a different species to the similarly looking American Purple Gallinule (Porphyrio martinicus)!
Lots for me to digest! Thanks so much for the information.
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So fascinating to hear what you discovered about our New World species and how they connect with the Old World species! And to complicate matters even more, we do have a Purple Swamphen here, which a lot of people mistake for our much lovelier, native Purple Gallinule. The Purple Swamphens are non-natives who have just settled right in!
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Complicated indeed!
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Absolutely beautiful bird
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Thank you!
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