gallinule

noun

gal·​li·​nule ˈga-lə-ˌnül 

-ˌnyül

: any of several aquatic birds of the rail family with long thin feet and a platelike frontal area on the head: such as

a

: moorhen

b

: one (Porphyrula martinica) found from the southern U.S. to Argentina that is purplish blue with olive-green upperparts, a red and yellow bill, and a light blue frontal area

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web

There was a common gallinule, two Northern shovelers, a Western kingbird, and a chestnut-sided warbler. —BostonGlobe.com, 23 Oct. 2021

While potential sightings range from the Hawaiian coot to the Hawaiian gallinule, one particularly fascinating resident creature is the nēnē, a type of native goose that likely evolved from the more widespread Canada goose eons ago. —Jared Ranahan, Forbes, 28 Jan. 2023

Three redheads, a cattle egret and a common gallinule at Hummock Pond, and two more cattle egrets at Bartlett’s Farm. —Isabela Rocha, BostonGlobe.com, 29 Oct. 2022

An American white pelican, a common gallinule, and two common ravens were all seen on the island. —BostonGlobe.com, 30 Oct. 2021

Highlights included a cattle egret in South Hadley, four black vultures in Hadley, a common gallinule in Hatfield, and two evening grosbeaks in Amherst. —BostonGlobe.com, 6 Nov. 2021

In Taunton, a common gallinule was seen at Lake Sabbatia. —BostonGlobe.com, 23 Oct. 2021

Required to hunt any migratory game bird (waterfowl, coot, rail, gallinule, snipe, dove, sandhill crane and woodcock) in combination with a Federal Duck Stamp and HIP Certification for waterfowl hunters 16 years of age and older. —Matt Williams, Dallas News, 14 Aug. 2021

Some interesting waterfowl recorded at South Monomoy Island included 10 gadwalls, four blue-winged teal, two Northern shovelers, three green-winged teal, and two ruddy ducks, as well as a sora, a common gallinule, and two American coots. —BostonGlobe.com, 19 June 2021

See More

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from New Latin Gallinula, genus that includes the moorhen, going back to Latin gallīnula "chicken," from gallīna "hen" + -ula -ule — more at gallinaceous

First Known Use

1776, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

gallinule

noun

gal·​li·​nule ˈgal-ə-ˌn(y)ü(ə)l 

: any of several birds related to the rails that are usually found in or near water