American Purple Gallinule (Porphyrio martinica), family Rallidae, order Gruiformes, SC, USA
photograph by Katrina Mizell Floyd
seen from Malaysia

seen from United States

seen from Latvia
seen from Uzbekistan
seen from Singapore
seen from United States
seen from Netherlands

seen from Austria
seen from Brazil
seen from China
seen from United Kingdom
seen from United States
seen from Malaysia
seen from Germany

seen from India

seen from Malaysia

seen from Malaysia
seen from United States
seen from China
seen from Türkiye
American Purple Gallinule (Porphyrio martinica), family Rallidae, order Gruiformes, SC, USA
photograph by Katrina Mizell Floyd
Purple Gallinule (Porphyrio martinica). Family Rallidae, order Gruiformes.
This little guy was so funny to watch. It flew out from the reeds and landed on some lily pads, and kept trying to walk on them and just kept sinking LOL.
Brazoria, Texas, USA. April 2026.
the purple gallinule is a colorful species of swamphen found in the americas. both sexes have colorful breeding plumage, with purple-blue feathers that shine green and turquoise under light. adults also have a yellow bill with a red tip, and a blue ‘shield’ above it. juveniles are light brown overall, with some hints of their future coloration found in green-bronze mottling on the back. gallinules have abnormally long toes that allow them to walk on floating vegetation, such as lily pads, to easily traverse ponds. the gallinules’ nests are cup-shaped and woven out of various cattails, grasses and other vegetation found in or near the ponds they inhabit; these nests float on the surface of the water, with five to ten eggs per clutch. young are fed by both parents, and sometimes by juveniles from earlier broods, who may linger to help care for the next round of siblings. in north american populations, typically only one brood is raised in a year, while in the warmer portion of their range they can successfully raise more clutches. the birds’ diet mainly consists of seeds, leaves, and roots of aquatic plant matter, as well as insects and small fish and frogs. despite their range being limited to the americas, they are known for appearing as vagrants in a wide variety of locations, including switzerland and the galápagos.
New Species Added: Common Gallinules
This species was the second priority species chosen by the $5/month Repository Patreon supporters. If you'd like to help choose the next one, consider becoming a patron!
The first time I've ever noticed this species was when I saw them feet-fighting in the water. and it blew my mind. This behavior is a way of sparring for territory, apparently.
Here's some pics of birds with silly feet, because I love them.
More feet fighting pics can be found on the species' repository page:
Artists creating derivative or transformative works (without AI) have blanket permission to use these and all photos in the repository as references, including works that will/may be sold.
The Animal Photo Reference Repository is an independent, permanently open-access project and funded entirely by donations.
**Patreon** -- **Ko-Fi**
Update on my bird wall! I'd love more suggestions so please feel free to comment!
I just struggle to draw hummingbirds and parrots 😭
Hawaiian Gallinule #avianaugust day 13.
Watercolor and colored pencils.
I’m not sure these count as uncharismatic or not but here is a wandering Ibis that showed up in my yard (not sure what he was doing there) and an Egret of some kind that I saw hanging out with what I think was a Gallinule at the park
Well isn't it obvious? The ibis was wandering!
Tenderness