Photo: Peterwchen / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Common Gallinule
Gallinula galeata
Common Gallinule (Gallinula galeata) — Cranes & Rails of North America.
Found across 13 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Common Gallinule (Gallinula galeata) is a member of the Rallidae family found in North America, Oceans & Seabirds and South America. Adults weigh 340 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Gruiformes
- Family Rallidae Rails, Crakes & Coots
- Genus Gallinula
- Species galeata
Quick facts
- Weight
- 340 g
- Diet
- Omnivores
- Family
- Rallidae
- Order
- Gruiformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Similar birds
Not Evaluated
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Common Gallinule is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Behaviour
A bird of wetlands, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Common Gallinule is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Common Gallinule (Gallinula galeata) is a member of the Rallidae family, within the order Gruiformes. It is found across North America, Oceans & Seabirds and South America. Its distribution covers NA, SA, PO widespread.
It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 340 g, with a wing length of about 17.6 cm and a tail of around 7.5 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 13.8 million km² — a very large global range.
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Common Gallinule?
The Common Gallinule is a large bird that weighs around 340 g.
Where does the Common Gallinule live?
The Common Gallinule is found across North America, Oceans & Seabirds and South America with a range covering NA, SA, PO widespread, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the Common Gallinule belong to?
The Common Gallinule (Gallinula galeata) belongs to the Rallidae family, in the order Gruiformes.
What does the Common Gallinule eat?
The Common Gallinule is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Does the Common Gallinule migrate?
The Common Gallinule is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Common 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 Common Gallinule make?
1 real field recording of the Common 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 Common Gallinule's range?
The Common Gallinule has a mapped global range of about 13.8 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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