General Description: Purple Gallinules (Porphyrio martinicus) are colorful, duck-like birds. The body is iridescent blue-black-green, the bill is red with a yellow tip and a blue frontal shield, the legs are yellow, and the rump is white.

Taxonomy: Order: Gruiformes (cranes, rails, and allies); Family: Rallidae (rails); Subfamily Fulicinae (coots). Also called American Purple Gallinule.

Where to Find: Don't look for Purple Gallinules around Las Vegas. Rather, look for them in ponds with floating vegetation (e.g., lily pads) along the Gulf Coast of the US and Mexico, the Caribbean, and eastern South America. South Florida is a good place to see this species.