Common Gallinule

Common Gallinule (Gallinula galeata) is in the Rails, Gallinules, and Coots family (Rallidae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 46,770 research-grade observations of it in our sample, peaking in April.

Seasonal pattern in the national data: year-round resident. Counts also reflect when people are out photographing, so compare months within a state rather than across states.

When to photograph Common Gallinule: observations by month (U.S.)

About Common Gallinule

The common gallinule (Gallinula galeata) is a bird in the family Rallidae. It was split from the common moorhen by the American Ornithologists' Union in July 2011. It lives around well-vegetated marshes, ponds, canals, and other wetlands in the Americas. The species is not found in the polar regions or many tropical rainforests. Elsewhere, the common gallinule is likely the most commonly seen rail species in much of North America, excepting the American coot in some...From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.

Common Gallinule by state

Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.

Related birds (Rails, Gallinules, and Coots)

American CootFulica americana

Purple GallinulePorphyrio martinica

SoraPorzana carolina

Virginia RailRallus limicola

Clapper RailRallus crepitans

Gray-headed SwamphenPorphyrio poliocephalus

Ridgway's RailRallus obsoletus

Photography tips

• Use a fast shutter (1/2000 s or faster) for birds in flight.
• Focus on the eye and shoot at the bird's eye level.
• Approach slowly and stop if the bird changes behavior; never bait or flush birds.
• Morning activity peaks in the first two hours after sunrise.

FAQ