American Purple Gallinule

The American Purple Gallinule, Porphyrio martinica, is a bird in the rail family Rallidae.

Their breeding habitat is warm swamps from in southeastern states of the USA and the tropical New World. This species is resident in southern Florida and the tropics, but most USA breeders are migratory, wintering south to Argentina.

This species is a very rare vagrant to western Europe. There is a similar species in southern Europe, the Purple Swamphen, Porphyrio porphyrio, but that bird is much larger.

This medium-sized rail is unmistakeable, with its huge yellow feet, purple-blue plumage with a green back, and red and yellow bill. It has a pale blue forehead shield and white undertail.

Young birds are brown rather than purple. These gallinules will fly short distances with dangling legs.

The nest is a floating structure in a marsh, and 6-10 eggs are laid.