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common gallinule

common gallinule(Gallinula galeata) [state endangered]
Photo © Alan Murphy Photography

Features and Behaviors

FEATURES
The common gallinule is about 14 inches in length (bill tip to tail tip in preserved specimen). The red bill that extends to a red plate between the eyes, yellow bill tip and white stripe along the sides are characteristic traits of this bird. The bill in immature common gallinules is not brightly colored.

BEHAVIORS
This bird is an uncommon migrant and local summer resident in northern Illinois. It is occasionally seen migrating in central and southern Illinois and may be a summer resident in these locations. Spring migrants begin arriving in late April. Fall migration starts in early September. This species winters in the southwestern United States and Central America. The common gallinule frequents marshy areas and lakes seeking the plants, seeds, aquatic macroinvertebrates and amphibians that it eats.

Reasons for Concern

​The continued loss and reduction in quality of wetland habitats affect this species.

Illinois Range

Taxonomy

​Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Gruiformes
Family: Rallidae

Illinois Status: state endangered, native