The common gallinule Gallinula galeata is a bird in the family Rallidae. It lives around well-vegetated marshes and other wetlands in the Americas. The species is not found in the polar regions or many tropical rainforests. Elsewhere, the gallinule is likely the most commonly seen rail species in much of North America. It has a wide range of gargling calls and will emit loud hisses when threatened. This is a common breeding bird in marsh environments and well-vegetated lakes. Populations in areas where the waters freeze will migrate to more temperate climes. This species consumes a wide variety of vegetable material and small aquatic creatures. It forages beside or in the water, sometimes upending in the water to feed. Despite loss of habitat, the gallinule remains plentiful and widespread. The gallinule will fight to defend its territory. The nest is a basket built on the ground in dense vegetation. About 8 eggs are usually laid per female early in the season. Nests may be re-used by different females. Both parents incubate and feed the young. When threatened, the young may cling to a parent`s body, and the adult birds fly away to safety, carrying their offspring with them. There is a Pleistocene population known from fossils: the larger, stout and long-winged paleosubspecies G. g. brodkorbi is known from the Ichetucknee River deposits in Florida. It was originally described as a distinct species, but is probably the direct ancestor of some of today`s common gallinules.

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