November 11, 2019

Location: Lake Mirror, Lakeland

We are Common Gallinules
We used to be Moorhens but now we are not
Our beaks and voicesdiffer from them
So we now have got our own spot*

*On the taxonomical list of birds, as determined by the American Ornithological Union. None of this really has to do with the photos which demonstrate that Common Gallinule babies are so freaking adorable with their little candy corn faces!

Sources: Proposal (416) to South American Classification Committee - Split Common Gallinule (Gallinula galeata) from Common Moorhen (G. chloropus)

Photo and text © 2018 Dee Fairbanks Simpson