Purple Gallinule In The Marsh Off The Anhinga Trail Near The Royal Palm Visitor Center In Florida. Royalty-Free Stock Photo

Pictured is an immature purple gallinule feeding in the marsh off the Anhinga Trail near the Royal Palm Visitor Center in Everglades National Park in Florida. Immature purple gallinules are a brown-bronze color, with purple feathers on chest, and the bill and forehead shield is pale in color. The binomial name is Porphyrio martinica. It is also known locally as the yellow-legged gallinule. Purple gallinules have long toes that help them walk onto floating vegetation, by distributing their weight across a large surface area. They are omnivorous ground feeders, consuming a variety of plant and animal material.