Of the 20 or more known records of Purple Gallinules to New Brunswick, most have been in the fall and were immature birds. Spring visitors are much more rare and those are mostly adults, which is the case with our recent visitor. The vagrant Purple Gallinules that arrive here are mainly due to severe storms which blow them way out of their normal range. However, with global warming and the movement of the normal ranges of avian species northward, we might some day see Purple Gallinules breeding here in small numbers. The normal range for this species is Florida, southern Alabama, Mississippi, Texas, Mexico and the Caribbean islands. Vagrants can occur throughout the eastern half of the US and the Maritime Provinces.
The preferred habitat for this species is lakes, pools, marshes and waterways. Their diet consists of invertebrates, frogs, aquatic vegetation, seeds and berries. They forage while walking slowly along shorelines, by wading and even by swimming. They are most notable as they walk over lily pads in marshy ponds. Their very large feet make them well suited for that!
The Purple Gallinule is about the size of a small chicken, 33 cm long. On first view it looks like a blue bird with brilliant yellow legs and feet. The upperparts are purplish blue which irridesce green. The underparts are a deep blue with white undertail coverts. The eye is red and the bill is red with a yellow tip. There is a light blue shied on the forehead which sometimes looks white. The feet are huge and are obviously a big help in manoeuvring over marsh vegetation. The juveniles have olive brown upperparts, pale brown underparts and a dark bill. This species pumps its head when it swims.
Purple Gallinules nest in marshes where they build their nests low over the water among dense sedges and rushes. The nest is built from dried stems and leaves which are interwoven and well concealed. In it are laid 5 to 10 pink or buff eggs marked with brown (6 to 8 being the average number). Incubation lasts 22 to 25 days. The young at first are covered with black fuzzy down.
Purple Gallinules (Porphyrio martinica) are a member of the Rallidae family along with coots and rails. Here in NB we need to differentiate the species from the Common Gallinule which is becoming a bit more numerous here and has even been known to breed. The Common Gallinule is larger and is a dark gray colour. It has obvious white stripes on its flanks. Some might also confuse the Purple Gallinule with the American Coot but it is all black with a white bill. There is another similar species which is an import from Europe, the Purple Swamphen. It occurs only in southern Florida and is much larger, 50 cm vs. 33 cm. Of interest, the Purple Gallinule has also been introduced to Europe! We need to stop meddling with bird ranges.
The Purple Gallinule is an amazing species in many ways. How does it arrive here when it appears to be such an awkward flyer? It flies with those big legs and feet dangling. It has even shown up as far away as Europe and South Africa! It is also very versatile. It can swim on the water surface like a duck but it can also walk on floating plants with ease. And speaking of feet, it often uses them to hold food in order to feed. See the photo below.
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