Common Gallinule

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If you are a golfer you see the Common Gallinule on the pond between 8 and 9 on the Harbor Course, also on the pond between the 11th and 6th greens on the Harbor Course, but they are quite plentiful and can be seen on many other ponds.  They can weight from 10.9 – 16.1 ounces – I believe we are seeing a lot more on the big side this year.  They are easy to spot with their red bills tipped in yellow and large green or yellow feet.

They swim buoyantly, bobbing their heads and running on open ground near water, often with their young in tow.  They tend to be quite noisy as they are strutting around.  They like the fresh marshes, reedy ponds and use the dense cover to avoid their stalkers such as alligators and turtles.  They themselves are omnivorous eating both plants, fruits and berries and also insects, spiders, worms, snails and tadpoles.

They may have 2 sets of young each year with eggs a buff color irregularly spotted with brown.  Both parents will alternate on the nest for 19-22 days.  Luckily the young can swim well after hatching, gradually learning to feed themselves after about 3 weeks.  The young are capable of flight at 40-50 days.  The young have a claw like appendage on their wings and use it to break out of the shells.

They tend to be permanent residents particularly in warm climates.  In courtship, males chase females on land, both stop, bow deeply, and preen each other’s feathers.  They may also lower their heads and raise their tails exposing white patches under the tail.