Rare Species Guide

  Synonyms

Gallinula chloropus

  Basis for Listing

The Common Gallinule (Gallinula galeata) occurs throughout much of the New World. In North America, its range extends from eastern Canada south throughout much of the eastern and southern United States and further south into Central America and the Caribbean. The largest wintering concentrations of Common Gallinules in the United States can be found in Florida (Bannor and Kiviat 2020). In Minnesota, although the species appears to have declined somewhat during much of the latter half of the twentieth century, both sightings and nesting records of Common Gallinules have been increasing over the past decade (Minnesota Ornithologists’ Union 2020)

Early in the twentieth century, Roberts (1932) described the species as a common breeding bird in all the larger sloughs and shallow grass-grown lakes of southern Minnesota, reaching its northern limit in Becker and Otter Tail counties. He reported seeing as many as a dozen at a time in lakes of the Minnesota River valley near the Twin Cities. Nesting, however, had been confirmed from only Jackson, Murray, Hennepin, and Otter Tail counties. Today, the Common Gallinule is considered a rare breeder, mostly occurring in the southern half of the state (Eastern Broadleaf Forest and Prairie Parkland provinces).  Since 2000, Common Gallinule nesting has been confirmed in at least 15 counties in Minnesota.  Because the Common Gallinule tends to be secretive, and its vocalization is similar to the very abundant American Coot (Fulica americana), its Minnesota population size is unknown. Loss or degradation of wetland habitats may, in part, be responsible for past declines. The Common Gallinule was listed as a special concern species in Minnesota in 1984.

  Description

Largely slate gray in coloration, the Common Gallinule is similar in appearance to the American Coot (Fulica americana), a much more common species in Minnesota. The Common Gallinule is best distinguished from the coot by a line of white streaks on the gallinule's sides, which appears as a white line on a swimming bird. Adult Common Gallinules also have a bright red shield above their bill, which blends into a red bill with a yellow tip. American Coots have a whitish bill. Common Gallinule vocalizations are varied and hen-like, with a combination of cackles, squawks, yelps, and clucks (Bannor and Kiviat 2020). The gallinule's call resembles that of the American Coot, but it has been described as sharper and higher pitched. Additionally, the Common Gallinule is more likely to stay in the cover of dense vegetation rather than swim in open water like the coot.

Other common names for this species include Common Moorhen (now an Old-World species from which the Common Gallinule was split), Florida Gallinule, American Gallinule, and Red-billed Mud Hen.

  Habitat

Freshwater cattail-bulrush marshes (northern and prairie) are the domain of this species. Higher Common Gallinule abundance and breeding density have been associated with a number of marsh features, including large size, deep water, equal parts open water and emergent vegetation, abundant dead vegetation, floating islands of organic matter, and abundant Muskrat (Ondatra zibethicus) runways (Bannor and Kiviat 2020). In some areas, gallinules share similar habitat with American Coots. Large, expansive wetlands are not essential for Common Gallinules, as this species will utilize quiet rivers, lakes, ponds, and small marshes along the edges of lakes or rivers. In some regions, Common Gallinules may also use artificial habitats, such as rice fields and sewage lagoons. They can be sensitive to human disturbance, however, moving away from areas frequently used by people (Bannor and Kiviat 2020).

  Biology / Life History

The Common Gallinule is a freshwater marsh rail. It feeds while swimming, diving, or walking on emergent vegetation. Common foods include seeds, soft plant parts, rootlets, snails, and insects (NatureServe 2020). It is a short- to medium-distance nocturnal migrant, possibly even in areas of more permanent residence (Bannor and Kiviat 2020). Outside of migration, the Common Gallinule rarely flies (NatureServe 2020). When threatened, it tends to hide within emergent vegetation. The species returns to its breeding grounds in late April through late May. A pair generally forms a seasonal bond before setting up a territory. Both sexes are highly territorial during the breeding season, engaging in aggressive displays to warn off intruders. However, Common Gallinules are often seen in family groups and are social on their winter grounds (Bannor and Kiviat 2020). The pair builds a cup-like nest made of stems and leaves. These nests are often constructed on top of bent or dead cattails in thick emergent vegetation close to open water. Common Gallinules and American Coots choose nest sites with similar features, suggesting the possibility of inter-specific competition (Bannor and Kiviat 2020). Eggs vary greatly in size, shape, and color. Clutch size also varies with roughly 5-10 eggs per nest. Common Gallinules in the northern United States may have 1-2 broods per season. Incubation lasts between 19 and 22 days with both sexes incubating the eggs. After hatching, chicks are semi-precocial, leaving the nest and following the adult after 12-24 hours. They are able to feed themselves at 7 days and are mostly self-sufficient at 21-25 days (Bannor and Kiviat 2020).
Common Gallinules often show cooperative breeding with the young from a first brood helping their parents raise more broods and defend their territory. This cooperative behavior may improve overall breeding success (Bannor and Kiviat 2020). The Common Gallinule is also a conspecific brood parasite, laying eggs in nests of other gallinules. A few instances of inter-specific brood parasitism have also been observed, including examples where Common Gallinules were the victims of parasitism by American Coots, Ruddy Ducks (Oxyura jamaicensis), and Least Bitterns (Ixobrychus exilis) (Bannor and Kiviat 2020).

  Conservation / Management

Wetland protection is vital to maintaining Common Gallinule populations. This species requires marshes with a nearly equal interspersion of emergent vegetation and open water (Greij 1994). Many marshes in Minnesota lack the necessary open water component and therefore are currently unsuitable for Common Gallinules. The gallinule's secretive nature combined with annual changes in marsh vegetation make population assessments difficult. Possible threats to this species include human disturbance and development, wetland drainage and degradation, predation, pollution, non-native plant invasions, and changes in Muskrat populations. More studies are needed to determine impacts of each of these factors on Common Gallinule populations (Bannor and Kiviat 2020). The Common Gallinule is a game species in some areas of North America. Most hunting occurs in Louisiana, Florida, and Texas, states in which the species over-winters (Bannor and Kiviat 2020). Hunting pressures on wintering grounds may play a role in the decline of Common Gallinules that breed in Minnesota.

  Conservation Efforts in Minnesota

Bird surveys conducted by the Minnesota Biological Survey found Common Gallinules to be relatively common in the extensive marshes along the Mississippi River in Houston County (The Blufflands Subsection) in 1993. Since 2010, Common Gallinules have been reported from 21 counties in Minnesota during the breeding season (Minnesota Ornithologists’ Union 2020). Nonetheless, the species' current distribution and abundance in the state remains poorly understood. Marsh preservation and restoration programs undoubtedly benefit the Common Gallinule as well as many other marsh species. Development of a more complete understanding of the Common Gallinule's distribution, abundance, and habitat preferences in Minnesota remains a priority.

  Authors/Revisions

Bob Dunlap (MNDNR), 2022

(Note: all content ©MNDNR)

  References and Additional Information

Bannor, B. K., and E. Kiviat. 2002. Common Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus). Number 685 in A. Poole and F. Gill, editors. The birds of North America. The Birds of North America, Inc., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Greij, E. D. 1994. Common Moorhen. Pages 145-157 in T. C. Tacha and C. E. Braun, editors. Migratory shore and upland game bird management in North America. International Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, Washington, D.C.

NatureServe. 2011. NatureServe Explorer: An online encyclopedia of life [web application]. Version 7.1. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia. . Accessed 5 January 2011.

Roberts, T. S. 1932. Birds of Minnesota. Volume 2. University of Minnesota Press, Minneapolis, Minnesota; London, H. Milford, Oxford Universtiy Press.