Bird · GBIF taxon 7340222
Common Gallinule
Gallinula galeataAlso known as Laughing Gallinule, Water Hen, American Gallinule
Common gallinules swim with a characteristic rhythmic head-bobbing motion, picking aquatic vegetation and invertebrates from the water's surface or floating mats of vegetation. Unlike ducks, they lack webbed feet, relying instead on exceptionally long, slender toes to distribute their weight while striding across lily pads and soft mud. Breeding pairs defend marshy territories fiercely, uttering an array of loud, chicken-like clucks, cackles, and whinnies among the reeds.
WetlandWading BirdVocal
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Duckweed
- Aquatic Snails
- Dragonfly Nymphs
Predators
- American Alligator
- Snapping Turtle
- Red-tailed Hawk
ThreatsWetland drainage, aquatic vegetation removal, pesticides, and predation by invasive mammals
HabitatsFreshwater and brackish marshes, ponds, canals, ditches, and sluggish rivers
Life span8–10 years in the wild
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- OrderGruiformes
- FamilyRallidae
- GenusGallinula
- SpeciesGallinula galeata
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
- Marsh Margins: Scan the edges of floating vegetation mats where adults forage in open sight.
- Listen Carefully: Track noisy bursts of hen-like squawks and whinnies within cattails to locate them.
- Viewing Distance: Keep a respectful buffer along boardwalks to avoid driving parents off their floating nests.
Frequent Companion (c) Justin Flint, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Justin Flint · cc-by
Close Relative (c) Alexis Lours, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Alexis Lours · cc-by
Same Family (c) Judy Gallagher, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Judy Gallagher · cc-by-sa
Same Family (c) Forest Botial-Jarvis, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Forest Botial-Jarvis · cc-by
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