American Purple Gallinule

Q: What are the chances of seeing an American Purple Gallinule in Bastimentos Island National Marine Park?

With luck. About 10% of wildlife watchers report an American Purple Gallinule sighting in Bastimentos Island National Marine Park on a given day, based on 299 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 149th most-seen of the 375 birds we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 20%, and over a week to about 40%, if each day is a fresh chance.

Q: When is the best time to see an American Purple Gallinule in Bastimentos Island National Marine Park?

June, September and November–April. In those months about 10% of wildlife watchers report an American Purple Gallinule in Bastimentos Island National Marine Park on a given day, against under 5% in May, July–August and October, the lowest months.

Q: What time of day is best to see an American Purple Gallinule?

Between 8 and 11 am. Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most American Purple Gallinule sightings with a recorded time, and about 9 in 10 of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is a daytime animal.

Q: Is Bastimentos Island National Marine Park the best place to see an American Purple Gallinule?

15th of 47. Of the 47 parks where we can rate American Purple Gallinule sightings, Bastimentos Island National Marine Park ranks 15th at about 10%. The best odds are in Palo Verde National Park (Costa Rica, about 40%), Lago de Yojoa (Honduras, about 40%) and Biotopo Cerro Cahuí (Guatemala, about 40%). All parks ranked.

Q: Which relatives of the American Purple Gallinule live in Bastimentos Island National Marine Park?

Same family: Rallidae. The closest relatives of the American Purple Gallinule that you can see in Bastimentos Island National Marine Park (family Rallidae, Rails, Gallinules, and Coots) are Gray-cowled Wood-Rail (about 20%), White-throated Crake (about 20%) and Common Moorhen (about 10%), with each one's daily chance of a sighting.

Q: Where does the American Purple Gallinule sighting chance come from?

GBIF citizen-science records. It is estimated from how often the American Purple Gallinule is recorded against all the birds logged in Bastimentos Island National Marine Park (299 verified sightings from 2019 to 2026), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.

Porphyrio martinica

Silhouette: Sheatherius · PhyloPic

KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
PhylumChordata (Chordates)
ClassAves (Birds)
OrderGruiformes (Cranes, Rails, and Allies)
FamilyRallidae (Rails, Gallinules, and Coots)
GenusPorphyrio (Swamphens and Blue Gallinules)
SpeciesPorphyrio martinica (American Purple Gallinule)

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck

at Bastimentos Island National Marine Park

In 3 days ~20% in a week ~40%

299 Verified sightings at Bastimentos Island National Marine Park From 2019 to 2026

15,625 In all 47 parks

September Best month

☀️ Diurnal When it's spotted

About the American Purple Gallinule

The purple gallinule (Porphyrio martinica) is a species of swamphen found in the Americas. It is in the order Gruiformes, meaning "crane-like", an order which also contains cranes, rails, and crakes. The purple gallinule is a rail species, placing it into the family Rallidae. It is also known locally as the yellow-legged gallinule. The specific name martinica denotes "of Martinique".

The purple gallinule is a medium-sized rail, measuring 26–37 cm (10–15 in) in length, spanning 50–61 cm (20–24 in) across the wings and weighing 141–305 g (5.0–10.8 oz). Males, averaging 257 g (9.1 oz) in mass, are slightly larger than females, at 215 g (7.6 oz) on average. An adult purple gallinule has purple-blue plumage that will shine green and turquoise when in good lighting. Adults also have a pale blue shield on their forehead, which connects with the red and yellow bill. Darkness or low light can dim the bright purple-blue plumage of the adult to make them look dusky or brownish, although the forehead shield color differentiates them from similar species such as common gallinules. Immature purple gallinules are a brown-bronze color, with purple feathers on chest, and the bill and... Wikipedia →

Sounds

Call1:14

Brazil · 2026

Alarm call0:08

Costa Rica · 2022

Flight call0:08

Ecuador · 2003

Global Distribution

Where it is recorded most Our parks where it lives Our cities where it livesIn captivity: 9 zoos & centres

Parks Where Found

#	Park	Country	Daily sighting probability
1	Palo Verde National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	~40%
2	Lago de Yojoa	🇭🇳 Honduras	~40%
3	Biotopo Cerro Cahuí	🇬🇹 Guatemala	~40%
4	Soberanía National Park	🇵🇦 Panama	~40%
5	Tortuguero National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	~30%
6	Piedras Blancas National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	~30%
7	Everglades National Park	🇺🇸 United States	~20%
8	Manu National Park	🇵🇪 Peru	~20%
9	Cerro Azul Meámbar National Park	🇭🇳 Honduras	~20%
10	Caroni Swamp	🇹🇹 Trinidad and Tobago	~20%
11	Manuel Antonio National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	~10%
12	Carara National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	~10%
13	Iberá National Park	🇦🇷 Argentina	~10%
14	La Amistad International Park (Panama)	🇵🇦 Panama	~10%
15	Bastimentos Island National Marine Park	🇵🇦 Panama	~10%
16	Tikal National Park	🇬🇹 Guatemala	~10%
17	Ciénaga de Zapata	🇨🇺 Cuba	~10%
18	Amacayacu National Natural Park	🇨🇴 Colombia	~10%
19	San Lorenzo Protected Forest	🇵🇦 Panama	~10%
20	Braulio Carrillo National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	~10%
21	Marino Ballena National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	<5%
22	Big Cypress National Preserve	🇺🇸 United States	<5%
23	Chapada Diamantina National Park	🇧🇷 Brazil	<5%
24	Santa Rosa National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	<5%
25	Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	<5%
26	Parque Estadual Encontro das Águas	🇧🇷 Brazil	<5%
27	Celaque National Park	🇭🇳 Honduras	<5%
28	Galápagos Islands	🇪🇨 Ecuador	<5%
29	Los Haitises National Park	🇩🇴 Dominican Republic	<5%
30	Calakmul Biosphere Reserve	🇲🇽 Mexico	<5%
31	Main Ridge Forest Reserve	🇹🇹 Trinidad and Tobago	<5%
32	Corcovado National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	<5%
33	Arrecifes de Cozumel National Park	🇲🇽 Mexico	<5%
34	Iguaçu National Park	🇧🇷 Brazil	<5%
35	Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge	🇺🇸 United States	<5%
36	Chagres National Park	🇵🇦 Panama	<5%
37	Sierra de la Macarena National Park	🇨🇴 Colombia	<5%
38	Arenal Volcano National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	<5%
39	Yasuní National Park	🇪🇨 Ecuador	<5%
40	Iguazú National Park	🇦🇷 Argentina	<5%
41	Ría Lagartos Biosphere Reserve	🇲🇽 Mexico	<5%
42	Las Baulas Marine National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	<5%
43	Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve	🇲🇽 Mexico	<5%
44	Tambopata National Reserve	🇵🇪 Peru	<5%
45	Parque Natural Metropolitano	🇵🇦 Panama	<5%
46	Tenorio Volcano National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	<5%
47	Table Mountain National Park	🇿🇦 South Africa	<5%

Cities Where Found

#	City	Country	Daily sighting probability
1	Bogota	🇨🇴 Colombia	~30%
2	Fortaleza	🇧🇷 Brazil	~20%
3	Recife	🇧🇷 Brazil	~20%
4	Barranquilla	🇨🇴 Colombia	~20%
5	Santa Cruz de la Sierra	🇧🇴 Bolivia	~20%
6	Miami	🇺🇸 United States	~10%
7	San Pedro Sula	🇭🇳 Honduras	~10%
8	Maracaibo	🇻🇪 Venezuela	<5%
9	Panama City	🇵🇦 Panama	<5%
10	João Pessoa	🇧🇷 Brazil	<5%

Zoos & Centres Where Found

#	Zoo / Centre	Country
1	Parque das Aves	🇧🇷 Brazil	In captivity
2	Toronto Zoo	🇨🇦 Canada	In captivity
3	Phoenix Zoo	🇺🇸 United States	In captivity
4	Aviario Nacional de Colombia	🇨🇴 Colombia	In captivity
5	Mangal das Garças	🇧🇷 Brazil	In captivity
6	Parque Zoológico Miguel Ángel de Quevedo	🇲🇽 Mexico	In captivity
7	Parque Zoobotânico Orquidário Municipal de Santos	🇧🇷 Brazil	In captivity
8	Parque museo La Venta	🇲🇽 Mexico	In captivity
9	Wiwa Quito	🇪🇨 Ecuador	In captivity

Closest Relatives at Bastimentos Island National Marine Park

Aramides cajanea

Daily sighting probability ~20% · Possible

Laterallus albigularis

Daily sighting probability ~20% · Possible

Gallinula chloropus

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck

Amaurolimnas concolor

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck

Fulica americana

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

Laterallus exilis

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

Porzana flaviventer

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

Aramus guarauna

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck

Amazona autumnalis

Daily sighting probability ~70% · Very likely

Coereba flaveola

Daily sighting probability ~70% · Very likely

Amazilia tzacatl

Daily sighting probability ~70% · Very likely

Psarocolius montezuma

Daily sighting probability ~70% · Very likely

See all 12 relatives Show fewer

Before you go

What are the chances of seeing an American Purple Gallinule in Bastimentos Island National Marine Park?

With luck

About 10% of wildlife watchers report an American Purple Gallinule sighting in Bastimentos Island National Marine Park on a given day, based on 299 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 149th most-seen of the 375 birds we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 20%, and over a week to about 40%, if each day is a fresh chance.

When is the best time to see an American Purple Gallinule in Bastimentos Island National Marine Park?

June, September and November–April

In those months about 10% of wildlife watchers report an American Purple Gallinule in Bastimentos Island National Marine Park on a given day, against under 5% in May, July–August and October, the lowest months.

What time of day is best to see an American Purple Gallinule?

Between 8 and 11 am

Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most American Purple Gallinule sightings with a recorded time, and about 9 in 10 of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is a daytime animal.

Is Bastimentos Island National Marine Park the best place to see an American Purple Gallinule?

15th of 47

Of the 47 parks where we can rate American Purple Gallinule sightings, Bastimentos Island National Marine Park ranks 15th at about 10%. The best odds are in Palo Verde National Park (Costa Rica, about 40%), Lago de Yojoa (Honduras, about 40%) and Biotopo Cerro Cahuí (Guatemala, about 40%). All parks ranked.

Which relatives of the American Purple Gallinule live in Bastimentos Island National Marine Park?

Same family: Rallidae

The closest relatives of the American Purple Gallinule that you can see in Bastimentos Island National Marine Park (family Rallidae, Rails, Gallinules, and Coots) are Gray-cowled Wood-Rail (about 20%), White-throated Crake (about 20%) and Common Moorhen (about 10%), with each one's daily chance of a sighting.

Where does the American Purple Gallinule sighting chance come from?

GBIF citizen-science records

It is estimated from how often the American Purple Gallinule is recorded against all the birds logged in Bastimentos Island National Marine Park (299 verified sightings from 2019 to 2026), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.

← Back to Bastimentos Island National Marine Park

American Purple Gallinule

About the American Purple Gallinule

Sounds

Recent sightings of American Purple Gallinule in Bastimentos Island National Marine Park

Global Distribution

Parks Where Found

Cities Where Found

Zoos & Centres Where Found

Closest Relatives at Bastimentos Island National Marine Park

Gray-cowled Wood-Rail

White-throated Crake

Common Moorhen

Uniform Crake

American Coot

Gray-breasted Crake

Yellow-breasted Crake

Limpkin

Red-lored Parrot

Bananaquit

Rufous-tailed Hummingbird

Montezuma Oropendola

Before you go

What are the chances of seeing an American Purple Gallinule in Bastimentos Island National Marine Park?

When is the best time to see an American Purple Gallinule in Bastimentos Island National Marine Park?

What time of day is best to see an American Purple Gallinule?

Is Bastimentos Island National Marine Park the best place to see an American Purple Gallinule?

Which relatives of the American Purple Gallinule live in Bastimentos Island National Marine Park?

Where does the American Purple Gallinule sighting chance come from?