Purple Gallinule Similar Species Comparison
Main SpeciesPurple Gallinule
Adult
Medium-sized marsh bird with long yellow legs. Adults are an brilliant purple with a bright red-and-yellow bill.
© Geoff Hill / Macaulay LibraryGeorgia, July 10, 2010Juvenile
Juveniles are pale brown with tints of bronze-green on the wings and back. Note white undertail coverts and long toes.
© Harlan Stewart / Macaulay LibraryTexas, September 02, 2020Adult
Despite having incredibly long toes that help distribute their weight as they walk on floating vegetation, these birds also manage to cling to plant stems and fairly often move through marshes this way.
© Tom Johnson / Macaulay LibraryFlorida, January 06, 2014Not all videos have sound
Immature
Immature birds are bronze above with purple feathers coming in on the chest. The bill and forehead shield are pale.
© Will Sweet / Macaulay LibraryMassachusetts, October 19, 2019Adult
Flies with legs hanging down when going short distances. Note iridescent bronze, green, and blue back and red-and-yellow bill.
© Alex Lamoreaux / Macaulay LibraryFlorida, January 30, 2017Adult
Adults have a blue shield on the forehead and a bright red-and-yellow bill. In good light their backs shine with green and turquoise colors. Can swim like a duck and walk on vegetation.
© Brad Dawson / Macaulay LibraryTexas, April 15, 2014Adult
Their long toes help them grab onto stems of marsh plants and walk on top of floating vegetation.
© Chris Wood / Macaulay LibraryFlorida, April 24, 2004Adult
Brilliant purple marsh bird with a red-and-yellow bill and long yellow legs. Walks on top of floating marsh vegetation, often pushing its head forward with each step.
© Christine Jacobs / Macaulay LibraryFlorida, January 05, 2016Habitat
Found in freshwater marshes with dense stands of floating vegetation.
© Nick Dorian / Macaulay LibraryFlorida, January 08, 2017Similar SpeciesCommon Gallinule
Adult
Common Gallinules have a white stripe down their side that Purple Gallinules don't have.
© Jay McGowan / Macaulay LibraryNew York, April 20, 2017Similar SpeciesAmerican Coot
Adult
American Coots are entirely black and lack the Purple Gallinule's bright red bill and purple neck.
© Christoph Moning / Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, February 27, 2010Similar SpeciesAmerican Coot
Juvenile
Juvenile American Coots can be separated from juvenile Purple Gallinules by their overall gray color; juvenile Purple Gallinules are brownish.
© Jay McGowan / Macaulay LibraryNew York, July 09, 2017Rotate Your Device to Better Compare
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