Purple gallinule, Porphyrio martinicus is a genus of swamphens. It is a member of the order Gruiformes, which also includes cranes, rails, and crakes. Purple gallinule is a rail species, belonging to the Rallidae family. Locally, it is referred to as the yellow-legged gallinule. Martinica is a particular epithet that means “of Martinique.”
Quick Overview: Porphyrio Martinicus – Purple Gallinule
Body size: Around 10.5 in (27 cm) and a weight of 258 g (9.1 oz)
Main colors: Purple-Blue, Green, Blue, Yellow, Red
Range: South to Eastern part of the United States
Migratory Bird: Yes
Best time of the year to see in the U.S.: March, April, May, September, October, November
Conservation Status: Least Concern
Purple Gallinule Description
A medium-sized marsh bird resembling a chicken with purple-blue upperparts and iridescent green, deep blue underparts. The forehead is pale blue, while the bill is crimson red with a yellow tip. White coverts on the under tail are present. Yellow legs with extremely long toes.
Size
These birds have a length of 10.5 in (27 cm) and a weight of 258 g (9.1 oz). Their wings could range from 21 in (53 cm).
Feeding
Purple gallinules are omnivores that eat on the ground. Their diet includes a diversity of plant and animal materials. They eat seeds, leaves, and fruits of aquatic and terrestrial plants, as well as insects, frogs, snails, earthworms, and fish.
Habitat
Swamps, marshes, and ponds are new. Throughout North America, they are typically found in large marshes with motionless or slowly moving shallow water, dense marsh cover, and floating vegetation. In the tropics, they can also be found in tiny ponds and ditches. Individuals may stopover in unusual settings, including cities, during migration.
Behavior
Purple Gallinules forage close to the water’s edge, where they maneuver deftly across muddy edges and among aquatic vegetation. They hunt similarly to domestic chickens, slowly wandering through the grass with their necks outstretched and pecking at fruits and tubers.
Porphyrio Martinicus Scientific Classification
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Chordata
- Subphylum: Chelicerata
- Class: Aves
- Order: Gruiformes
- Family: Rallidae
- Genus: Porphyrio
- Species: Porphyrio martinicus
Best time of the year to see
In the United States, the best time of year to see these birds are during the Spring season (March-May) and during the Autumn season (September – November).
Distribution of the Purple Gallinule in the USA
Found in the southern Atlantic and Gulf states, as well as infrequently as far north as Maine, New York, and Wisconsin, and south throughout the West Indies and coastal portions of Mexico, Central America, and northern South America, all the way to Brazil.
The Purple Gallinule can be found in the following states in the United States – New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Mississippi, Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa, and Florida.
