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Porphyrio martinica
American Purple Gallinule (Porphyrio martinica) foraging among water plants at Green Cay Wetlands, Boynton Beach, Florida. This Gallinule was so intent on its feeding that it was oblivious to me on the boardwalk directly above it. << The American Purple Gallinule (Porphyrio martinica) is... in the rail family Rallidae. A medium-sized rail (33 centimetres (13 in) in length) with big yellow feet, purple-blue plumage with a green back, and red and yellow bill. It has a pale blue forehead shield and white undertail. ... The diet of these rails is omnivorous, being known to include a wide variety of plant and animal matter, including seeds, leaves and fruits of both aquatic and terrestrial plants, as well as insects, frogs, snails, spiders, earthworms and fish. >>
The American Purple Gallinule (Porphyrio martinica) is a "swamp hen" in the rail family Rallidae. A medium-sized rail (33 centimetres (13 in) in length) with big yellow feet, purple-blue plumage with a green back, and red and yellow bill. It has a pale blue forehead shield and white undertail. Juveniles are brown overall with a brownish olive back. Their breeding habitat is warm swamps and marshes in southeastern states of the United States and the tropical regions of Central America, the Caribbean and northern South America. This species is resident in southern Florida and the tropics, but most American birds are migratory, wintering south to Argentina. The nest is a floating structure in a marsh. Five to ten eggs are laid. Their coloration is buff with brown spots. The diet of these rails is omnivorous, being known to include a wide variety of plant and animal matter, including seeds, leaves and fruits of both aquatic and terrestrial plants, as well as insects, frogs, snails, spiders, earthworms and fish. They have also been known to eat the eggs and young of other birds. (credit: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Pu............)
2 Comments
alice,
Yes, their feet look like they belong to a much larger bird... Watching them use their oversized feet as claws to climb and to drag plants closer is quite fascinating.
Picture 3 shows their really interesting feet!