Allen's gallinule
| Allen's gallinule | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Gruiformes |
| Family: | Rallidae |
| Genus: | Porphyrio |
| Species: | P. alleni
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| Binomial name | |
| Porphyrio alleni | |
Allen's gallinule (Porphyrio alleni), formerly known as the lesser gallinule, is a small waterbird of the family Rallidae.
Taxonomy
[edit]Its former binomial name is Porphyrula alleni. Porphyrio is the Latin for "swamphen", and alleni, like the English name, commemorates British naval officer Rear-Admiral William Allen (1792–1864).[3][4]
Distribution and habitat
[edit]Its breeding habitat is marshes and lakes in Sub-Saharan Africa. Remarkably, this apparently weakly flying bird is not only the only species with a purely sub-Saharan African range to have reached Great Britain, but has done so twice. It has also occurred as a vagrant in several other European countries.
Description
[edit]
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.
Breeding
[edit]Allen's gallinules are very secretive in the breeding season, particularly in the dense swamps they favour, and are mostly heard rather than seen. They are then rather noisy birds, with a sharp nasal pruk call. This species is partially migratory, undertaking seasonal movements. They can be easier to see on migration or when wintering. They build a floating nest in marshes and swamps, laying 2–5 eggs.
Diet
[edit]These birds probe with their bill in mud or shallow water, also picking up food by sight. They mainly eat insects and aquatic animals.
References
[edit]- ^ BirdLife International (2016). "Porphyrio alleni". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T22692816A93370659. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22692816A93370659.en. Retrieved 11 November 2021.
- ^ Thomson, T. R. H. (1842). "Description of a new species of Genetta, and of two species of Birds from Western Africa". The Annals and Magazine of Natural History, Including Zoology, Botany, and Geology. 10 (64): 203–205. doi:10.1080/03745484209445224.
- ^ Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael (2003). Whose Bird? Men and Women Commemorated in the Common Names of Birds. London: Christopher Helm. p. 24.
- ^ Jobling, James A (2010). The Helm Dictionary of Scientific Bird Names. London: Christopher Helm. pp. 42, 314. ISBN 978-1-4081-2501-4.
External links
[edit]- (Allen's gallinule = ) lesser gallinule - Species text in The Atlas of Southern African Birds