Purple Gallinule

Description:

A beautifully colored bird of southern and tropical wetlands, the Purple Gallinule can be see walking on top of floating vegetation or clambering through dense shrubs. Its extremely long toes help it walk on lily pads without sinking. Swims on surface of water like a duck and walks on floating plants rather like a chicken. It has a dark purple head, neck, underside and a green back. The triangular red bill is tipped with yellow. The legs are yellow.

Habitat:

Reeds, waterlilies, pickerel rush all line the roadway as you travel south into Cameron Prairie National Wildlife Refuge. There is a Information Center at the entrance to the refuge. This refuge is on the Lake Charles Creole Loop.

Notes:

Cameron Prairie National Wildlife Refuge was established to preserve and protect wintering waterfowl and their habitat. It was the first refuge established under the auspices of the North American Waterfowl Management Plan. The refuge is located approximately 25 miles southeast of Lake Charles, Louisiana, in north central Cameron Parish. It contains 9,621 acres that include fresh marsh, coastal prairie, and old rice fields (currently moist soil units). Located at the convergence of two major flyways, the refuge has an important role in management for migratory birds.