Photo: Martien Brand from Mariënberg, The Netherlands / CC BY 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)

Least Concern

Cranes & Rails

Allen’s Gallinule

Porphyrio alleni

Allen's Gallinule (Porphyrio alleni) — Cranes & Rails of Africa.

Field guide · LocationsWhere to see this bird

Found across 12 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.

Regional checklists

Birds of Brazil Birds of Spain Birds of Kenya Birds of Portugal Birds of Tanzania Birds of South Africa

By family

Rails, Crakes & Coots of Brazil Rails, Crakes & Coots of Spain Rails, Crakes & Coots of Kenya Rails, Crakes & Coots of Portugal Rails, Crakes & Coots of Tanzania Rails, Crakes & Coots of South Africa

See what's near you right now

The Allen’s Gallinule (Porphyrio alleni) is a member of the Rallidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 139 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.

Conservation status

IUCN Red List

LC Least Concern

Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.

Where it fits

Class Aves
Order Gruiformes
Family Rallidae Rails, Crakes & Coots
Genus Porphyrio
Species alleni

Where it lives

Widespread

Africa

Quick facts

Weight: 139 g
Diet: Aquatic plant-eaters
Family: Rallidae
Order: Gruiformes
Habitat: Wetland, lake & coast

How to identify

Similar birds

Least Concern

Common Moorhen

Gallinula chloropus

Least Concern

Red-necked Crake

Rallina tricolor

Vulnerable

Gough Moorhen

Gallinula comeri

Least Concern

White-breasted Waterhen

Amaurornis phoenicurus

Biology & behaviour

Diet

The Allen’s Gallinule feeds mainly on aquatic plants and algae.

Behaviour

A bird of wetlands, it forages mainly on the ground.

Migration

The Allen’s Gallinule is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.

The Allen’s Gallinule (Porphyrio alleni) is a member of the Rallidae family, within the order Gruiformes. Its range spans Africa. Its distribution covers AF widespread.

It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 139 g, with a wing length of about 15.3 cm and a tail of around 6.4 cm.

The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.

Its mapped global range covers an estimated 16.4 million km² — a very large global range.

Songs & calls

Allen’s Gallinule — Call

Recorded by Peter Boesman Licence: CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

Frequently asked questions

How big is the Allen’s Gallinule?

The Allen’s Gallinule is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 139 g.

Where does the Allen’s Gallinule live?

The Allen’s Gallinule is found across Africa with a range covering AF widespread, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.

What family does the Allen’s Gallinule belong to?

The Allen’s Gallinule (Porphyrio alleni) belongs to the Rallidae family, in the order Gruiformes.

What does the Allen’s Gallinule eat?

The Allen’s Gallinule feeds mainly on aquatic plants and algae.

Does the Allen’s Gallinule migrate?

The Allen’s Gallinule is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.

Is the Allen’s Gallinule endangered?

The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.

What sound does the Allen’s Gallinule make?

1 real field recording of the Allen’s Gallinule — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.

How large is the Allen’s Gallinule's range?

The Allen’s Gallinule has a mapped global range of about 16.4 million km².