American Purple Gallinule

Purple Gallinule ( Porphyrio martinica )

The Purple Gallinule ( Porphyrio martinica ) is a domestic especially in America Rail bird.

Features

The 33 cm long Purple Gallinule is similar to the Common Moorhen in appearance and behavior. However, it is with its ultramarine blue plumage with a green back, green wings and white under tail-coverts, red beak with yellow tip, the blue forehead shield and the long yellow legs of far more conspicuous bird. The young bird is brown in color and bear claws on its wings that allow him to climb in the bushes, but disappear with age and is a rare but very interesting indication of the dinosaur lineage of modern birds. Otherwise, these claws are only to be found in Hoatzinküken. The Purple Gallinule is not a skilful pilot, but it flutters usually upon sudden disturbance on. In short flight distances, it causes the legs to dangle.

Occurrence

The Purple Gallinule is found in the southeastern United States, Central America, South America to Argentina, partly also to the Mediterranean and rare in the UK and in parts of Africa. It inhabits lakes, lagoons, swamps and marshes with dense vegetation. Only the northernmost populations move to the breeding season in the south.

Behavior

When foraging bird wading in the shallow water between the water plants around, he runs over lily pads and climbs in the branches of overhanging bushes. He usually stays in coverage. The Purple Gallinule feeds on aquatic plants, seeds, berries, invertebrates and amphibians. It was also observed that it eats eggs or young of other birds.

Reproduction

From spring to autumn, the Purple Gallinule placed in a cup-shaped nest in the reeds or floating plants between 3 to 12 white eggs with brown spots, which are incubated for three weeks. Not Breeding birds help partially build the nest and feeding the young birds.