The dazzling Purple Gallinule

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This beautiful iridescent bird is one of my favorites, and its colors really popped as I walked by on a recent sunny day!

“Clearly the most colorful of our rails, the Purple Gallinule is among the most gaudy breeding birds in North America.” (Birds of the World) [Personally, I don’t think ‘gaudy’ is the best choice of words! 😉]

Purple Gallinules are short-distance to local migrants in much of South America, and they migrate April to October from the Caribbean and Central America to the southeast US states along the Gulf of Mexico. Fortunately for us, some remain in Florida year-round!

To see them fly rather weakly over short distances here in our marshes, one wouldn’t suspect they’d fly long distances. But according to studies cited in Birds of the World, Purple Gallinules are capable of flying “strongly when migrating, flying high and advancing in a direct course by continued flapping”.

39 thoughts on “The dazzling Purple Gallinule”

  14. In the realm where birder’s journeys intertwine, A dazzling tale emerges, purely divine. The Purple Gallinule, a radiant sight, On sunny days, a true delight. 🌞

    “Iridescent hues, a rail so bright, Among North America’s birds, a colorful light. ‘Gaudy,’ some say, but with affection, A term not fit for such perfection. 😉

    From South to North, they migrate in grace, April to October, they find their place. Caribbean, Central America, a journey so bold, To the Gulf’s southeast states, as the tale is told. 🌍

    Florida’s warmth, some choose to stay, A year-round home, in marshes, they play. Weak in flight, or so it seems, Over short marsh distances, where sunlight gleams. 🌾

    Yet studies reveal, a strength unknown, High and mighty, their skills have grown. ‘Migratory prowess,’ the scholars write, Through direct paths, they take their flight. 🛫

    So here we stand, in awe, aghast, At the Purple Gallinule, as they fly past. A birder’s joy, in every feather, A dazzling story, light as a feather. 📚”

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  17. Gorgeous photos – they really are dazzling. Made me look up the one we get here – Porphyrio madagascariensis, which you may be interested to see. It used to be called purple gallinule, but is now known as the African swamphen.
    I have also just read the that the American purple gallinule is occasionally vagrant here in the Western Cape, after having been blown across the Atlantic when migrating north from S. America by strong westerly winds! Almost all found are juveniles on their own, arriving emaciated and exhausted and usually they don’t survive, poor things.

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