American Purple Gallinule

Porphyrio martinica

Silhouette: Sheatherius · PhyloPic

KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
PhylumChordata (Chordates)
ClassAves (Birds)
OrderGruiformes (Cranes, Rails, and Allies)
FamilyRallidae (Rails, Gallinules, and Coots)
GenusPorphyrio (Swamphens and Blue Gallinules)
SpeciesPorphyrio martinica (American Purple Gallinule)

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data

at El Impenetrable National Park

3 Verified sightings at El Impenetrable National Park From 2019 to 2026

15,244 Verified sightings across all 72 parks From 2019 to 2026

☀️ Diurnal When it's spotted during daytime hours (6am–6pm)

About the American Purple Gallinule

The purple gallinule (Porphyrio martinica) is a species of swamphen found in the Americas. It is in the order Gruiformes, meaning "crane-like", an order which also contains cranes, rails, and crakes. The purple gallinule is a rail species, placing it into the family Rallidae. It is also known locally as the yellow-legged gallinule. The specific name martinica denotes "of Martinique".

The purple gallinule is a medium-sized rail, measuring 26–37 cm (10–15 in) in length, spanning 50–61 cm (20–24 in) across the wings and weighing 141–305 g (5.0–10.8 oz). Males, averaging 257 g (9.1 oz) in mass, are slightly larger than females, at 215 g (7.6 oz) on average. An adult purple gallinule has purple-blue plumage that will shine green and turquoise when in good lighting. Adults also have a pale blue shield on their forehead, which connects with the red and yellow bill. Darkness or low light can dim the bright purple-blue plumage of the adult to make them look dusky or brownish, although the forehead shield color differentiates them from similar species such as common gallinules. Immature purple gallinules are a brown-bronze color, with purple feathers on chest, and the bill and... Wikipedia →

Closest Relatives at El Impenetrable National Park

Aramides ypecaha

Daily sighting probability ~30% · Possible

Aramides cajanea

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck

Gallinula chloropus

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck

Laterallus melanophaius

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

Gallinula melanops

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data

Aramus guarauna

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

Global Distribution

Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.

Parks Where Found

#	Park	Country	Daily sighting probability
1	Lago de Yojoa	🇭🇳 Honduras	~50%
2	Palo Verde National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	~40%
3	Soberanía National Park	🇵🇦 Panama	~40%
4	Piedras Blancas National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	~30%
5	Tortuguero National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	~30%
6	Cerro Azul Meámbar National Park	🇭🇳 Honduras	~20%
7	Everglades National Park	🇺🇸 United States	~20%
8	Manuel Antonio National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	~20%
9	Biotopo Cerro Cahuí	🇬🇹 Guatemala	~20%
10	Cordillera Azul National Park	🇵🇪 Peru	~10%
11	Manu National Park	🇵🇪 Peru	~10%
12	Caroni Swamp	🇹🇹 Trinidad and Tobago	~10%
13	Iberá National Park	🇦🇷 Argentina	~10%
14	San Lorenzo Protected Forest	🇵🇦 Panama	~10%
15	Darién National Park	🇵🇦 Panama	~10%
16	Tikal National Park	🇬🇹 Guatemala	~10%
17	La Amistad International Park (Panama)	🇵🇦 Panama	~10%
18	Saguaro National Park	🇺🇸 United States	~10%
19	Bastimentos Island National Marine Park	🇵🇦 Panama	~10%
20	Marino Ballena National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	~10%
21	Ciénaga de Zapata	🇨🇺 Cuba	~10%
22	Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	<5%
23	Carara National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	<5%
24	Chapada Diamantina National Park	🇧🇷 Brazil	<5%
25	Santa Rosa National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	<5%
26	Los Haitises National Park	🇩🇴 Dominican Republic	<5%
27	Galápagos Islands	🇪🇨 Ecuador	<5%
28	Sierra de la Macarena National Park	🇨🇴 Colombia	<5%
29	Pico Bonito National Park	🇭🇳 Honduras	<5%
30	Big Cypress National Preserve	🇺🇸 United States	<5%
31	Madidi National Park	🇧🇴 Bolivia	<5%
32	Main Ridge Forest Reserve	🇹🇹 Trinidad and Tobago	<5%
33	Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve	🇪🇨 Ecuador	<5%
34	Ría Lagartos Biosphere Reserve	🇲🇽 Mexico	<5%
35	Parque Estadual Encontro das Águas	🇧🇷 Brazil	<5%
36	Calakmul Biosphere Reserve	🇲🇽 Mexico	<5%
37	Tambopata National Reserve	🇵🇪 Peru	<5%
38	Amacayacu National Natural Park	🇨🇴 Colombia	<5%
39	Podocarpus National Park	🇪🇨 Ecuador	<5%
40	Corcovado National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	<5%
41	Arrecifes de Cozumel National Park	🇲🇽 Mexico	<5%
42	Chagres National Park	🇵🇦 Panama	<5%
43	Iguaçu National Park	🇧🇷 Brazil	<5%
44	Yasuní National Park	🇪🇨 Ecuador	<5%
45	Serra dos Órgãos National Park	🇧🇷 Brazil	<5%
46	Iguazú National Park	🇦🇷 Argentina	<5%
47	Arenal Volcano National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	<5%
48	Braulio Carrillo National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	<5%
49	Table Mountain National Park	🇿🇦 South Africa	<5%
50	Tapantí-Macizo de la Muerte National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	Insufficient data
51	Noel Kempff Mercado National Park	🇧🇴 Bolivia	Insufficient data
52	Utría National Natural Park	🇨🇴 Colombia	Insufficient data
53	Isla del Coco National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	Insufficient data
54	El Palmar National Park	🇦🇷 Argentina	Insufficient data
55	Amboró National Park	🇧🇴 Bolivia	Insufficient data
56	Henri Pittier National Park	🇻🇪 Venezuela	Insufficient data
57	Serra da Canastra National Park	🇧🇷 Brazil	Insufficient data
58	El Impenetrable National Park	🇦🇷 Argentina	Insufficient data
59	Chingaza National Natural Park	🇨🇴 Colombia	Insufficient data
60	Celestún Biosphere Reserve	🇲🇽 Mexico	Insufficient data
61	Cañón del Sumidero National Park	🇲🇽 Mexico	Insufficient data
62	Montes Azules Biosphere Reserve	🇲🇽 Mexico	Insufficient data
63	Parque Natural Metropolitano	🇵🇦 Panama	Insufficient data
64	Anavilhanas National Park	🇧🇷 Brazil	Insufficient data
65	Tenorio Volcano National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	Insufficient data
66	Tijuca National Park	🇧🇷 Brazil	Insufficient data
67	Las Baulas Marine National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	Insufficient data
68	Rincón de la Vieja National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	Insufficient data
69	Itatiaia National Park	🇧🇷 Brazil	Insufficient data
70	Chirripó National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	Insufficient data
71	Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve	🇲🇽 Mexico	Insufficient data
72	Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	Insufficient data

← Back to El Impenetrable National Park

American Purple Gallinule

About the American Purple Gallinule

Recent sightings of American Purple Gallinule in El Impenetrable National Park

Closest Relatives at El Impenetrable National Park

Giant Wood-Rail

Gray-cowled Wood-Rail

Common Moorhen

Rufous-sided Crake

Spot-flanked Gallinule

Limpkin

Global Distribution

Parks Where Found