Purple Gallinule

Porphyrio martinica

Purple Gallinule (Porphyrio martinica) — Cranes & Rails of North America.

Field guide · LocationsWhere to see this bird

Found across 15 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.

Regional checklists

Birds of Canada Birds of the United Kingdom Birds of Ireland Birds of the United States Birds of South Africa Birds of New Brunswick Birds of Newfoundland and Labrador Birds of Nova Scotia Birds of Ontario Birds of Prince Edward Island

By family

Rails, Crakes & Coots of Canada Rails, Crakes & Coots of the United Kingdom Rails, Crakes & Coots of the United States Rails, Crakes & Coots of South Africa Rails, Crakes & Coots of Nova Scotia

See what's near you right now

The Purple Gallinule (Porphyrio martinica) is a member of the Rallidae family found in Central America & Caribbean, North America and South America. Adults weigh 235 g.

Where it fits

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

Where it lives

Southeastern USA to northern Argentina

Quick facts

Weight: 235 g
Diet: Aquatic plant-eaters
Family: Rallidae
Order: Gruiformes
Habitat: Wetland, lake & coast

How to identify

Similar birds

Least Concern

Biology & behaviour

Diet

The Purple Gallinule feeds mainly on aquatic plants and algae.

Behaviour

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

Migration

The Purple Gallinule is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.

The Purple Gallinule (Porphyrio martinica) is a species of bird in the Rallidae family, part of the order Gruiformes. It occurs naturally across Central America & Caribbean, North America and South America. Its distribution covers NA, MA, SA se USA to n Argentina.

It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 235 g, with a wing length of about 17.4 cm and a tail of around 7.3 cm.

The species has a mapped global range of roughly 16.4 million km² — a very large global range.

Songs & calls

Purple Gallinule — Call

Recorded by JAYRSON ARAUJO DE OLIVEIRA Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

Frequently asked questions

How big is the Purple Gallinule?

The Purple Gallinule is a large bird that weighs around 235 g.

Where does the Purple Gallinule live?

The Purple Gallinule is found across Central America & Caribbean, North America and South America with a range covering NA, MA, SA se USA to n Argentina, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.

What family does the Purple Gallinule belong to?

The Purple Gallinule (Porphyrio martinica) belongs to the Rallidae family, in the order Gruiformes.

What does the Purple Gallinule eat?

The Purple Gallinule feeds mainly on aquatic plants and algae.

Does the Purple Gallinule migrate?

The Purple Gallinule is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.

What sound does the Purple Gallinule make?

1 real field recording of the Purple 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 Purple Gallinule's range?

The Purple Gallinule has a mapped global range of about 16.4 million km².