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WetlandCup nestMedium · 139 g
ID tip
They are similar in size to the only slightly larger water rail. The Allen's gallinule has a short red bill, greenish back and purple upperparts. They have red legs with long toes, and a short tail which is white with a dark central bar underneath. Breeding males have a blue frontal shield, which is green in the female. Immature Allen's gallinules are sandy brown with a buff undertail. The downy chicks are black, as with all rails. They nod their heads as they swim.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
When to see the Allen's Gallinule
One bar for each month, and every month is filled: this bird is recorded here in all twelve. The wide bar is January, the month with the most records.
Where to see the Allen's Gallinule
The map shades 35 countries with regular records, and 8 more in a lighter tone where the bird turns up only as a stray. Everything unshaded has no records. Countries are listed below the map.
Recorded as a rare visitor in Spain, Portugal, South Sudan, France, Mauritania, Sierra Leone, Türkiye, Greece.
About the Allen's Gallinule
Allen's gallinule, formerly known as the lesser gallinule, is a small waterbird of the family Rallidae.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Easily confused with
South Island TakahePorphyrio hochstetteriThe South Island takahē is the largest living member of the family Rallidae.
Azure GallinulePorphyrio flavirostrisThe azure gallinule is 23 to 26 cm (9.1 to 10 in) long.
Purple GallinulePorphyrio martinicaThe purple gallinule is a medium-sized rail, measuring 26–37 cm (10–15 in) in length, spanning 50–61 cm (20–24 in) across the wings and weighing 141–305 g (5.0–10.8 oz).
Side by side: Allen's Gallinule vs Purple Gallinule · African Crake vs Allen's Gallinule · Allen's Gallinule vs South Island Takahe
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