Common Gallinule Gallinula galeata
(aka Common Moorhen Gallinula chloropus)

Brazilian name: frango-d'água-comum
Chilean name: Tagüita del norte
Common Moorhen, Aguas de São Pedro, São Paulo, Brazil, August 2004 - click for larger image The Common Gallinule is widely distributed in the New World. See the distribution map at Birdlife International. It is found in freshwater wetlands, rivers, ponds, lakes, etc., where there is some vegetation cover.
Common Moorhen, Aguas de São Pedro, São Paulo, Brazil, August 2004 - click for larger image At a distance it looks black with a bright red shield and bill with a yellow tip. It has a white stripe on the flanks and very obvious white undertail-coverts prominently displayed under its flicking tail.

There are 7 sub-species which vary slightly in size and colouration. The sub-species in Brazil (photos 1 to 3 and 5 to 8) is G. g. galeata which has a darker back. It also has a squarish rather than rounded edge to the top of the shield.

Common Moorhen, Aguas de São Pedro, São Paulo, Brazil, August 2004 - click for larger image The 4th photo was taken in Cuba and shows a much browner back. It is probably the resident sub-species G. c. cerceris though it may be an over-wintering G. c. cachinnans from North America. Photo 6 taken at the coast in northern Chile is of the sub-species G. c. pauxilla.
Common Moorhen, Zapata Swamp, Cuba, February 2005 - click for larger image
Common Moorhen, Aguas de São Pedro, São Paulo, Brazil, December 2006 - click for larger image
Common Moorhen, Mouth of Lluta River, Chile, February 2007 - click for larger image
Common Moorhen, Aguas de São Pedro, São Paulo, Brazil, November 2008 - click for larger image
Common Moorhen, Aguas de São Pedro, São Paulo, Brazil, November 2008 - click for larger image
Common Gallinule, Indañé, San Martin, Peru - click for larger image
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