Purple Gallinule

Description:

A colorful wading bird of the Southeastern U.S. swampland - also found in Central and South America. Its widespread long toes help it walk on lily pads, as seen in these pictures. A similar species, the Purple Swamphen (Porphyrio porphyrio), is not native to the U.S. but has escaped captivity and can be found in Florida as well.

Notes:

Taken on the Anhinga Trail, Everglades National Park