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Purple Gallinule chicks

Porphyrio martinicus

Photo by James McNair
Published on Project Noah
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28.5768, -80.9947

Field Notes

Description:

I saw three of these today and I think they might be Sora chicks but not sure. They are overall brown lighter on the underside of the neck and breast and belly. Legs were strawish yellow with large feet for walking on lilly pads and reeds. They are about the size of Gallinule chicks but I have never seen them this color before. Any ID help would be appreciated

Habitat:

Orlando Wetlands in Christmas Florida

Species ID Suggestions

Comments (5)
James McNair
Thanks Malcolm. I didn't realize the distance was that crucial, I figured it was within central Florida, but I have updated the location and will be more precise in future. I didn't actually see the adult Sora, I just know they are around. The other birds commonly found here are Common Gallinule and Purple Gallinule but the coloration of these two doesn't resemble either that I see every breeding season here.
Malcolm Wilton-Jones
James. I know where Christmas is but your map pin is at Port St Johns on the coast. We do prefer the map pins to be at least within a short distance (less than, say, 50 feet) except for protected species. I do not know this one but many chicks of all types of waterbird can be very confusing as they all start out of the egg looking identical, though the legs and bill soon develop to give a good idea after a few weeks. If, as happens here, there are many species breeding in the same area it is not uncommon to find chicks of one species alongside adults bearing no relationship whatsoever.
James McNair
Malcolm Christmas is actually on the Eastern side of Orange County about 30 minutes from the coast. I agree that the Sora isn't supposed to breed here but I have seen an adult with a very small chick a few years ago. This was taken today. Do you have any idea what they are?
Malcolm Wilton-Jones
I'm a little confused as either the date or the map appears to be wrong and Soras do not breed in winter or in Florida, while Christmas, Orlando, is not on the east coast, or wasn't when I was there!
Photographed
PublishedAugust 19, 2017

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