Photo copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy • Images: Mostardas, Brazil • November 2009

Bird name: Spot Flanked Gallinule
Latin: Gallinula melanops
Other: Carqueja-de-bico-amerelo (Br) • Polla pintada (Es) • Other Es: Tagüita • Polla sabanera • Pollolla • Pollona pintada • Pitroca
Family: Rallidae • Rails

I regret not spending more time looking out for Coots and Rails in the Lagoa do Peixe area - I discovered on my return that there are many different species that live in this area. This was the only Spot-flanked Gallinule I saw - distinguished by its green beak area.

The Spot-flanked Gallinule lives in eastern Brazil and other South American countries.More photos...

Photos copyright: monacoeye • Nice, France • Do not copy without permission

Bird name: Common Moorhen
Latin: Gallinula chloropus
Other: Moorhen • Common Waterhen (UK) • Common Gallinule (US) • Gallinule Poule d'Eau (Fr) • Teichralle (De) • Polla Gris (Es), Polla de Agua, Pollona Negra, Gallareta Común, Tiqui, Taca-taca, Gallineta • Galinha-d'água, Frango-d'água (Pt)
Family: Rallidae • Coots • Rails

The Moorhen, or Common Gallinule as it’s known in the US, with its distinctive red beak with yellow tip, is found on most continents, and is thus probably the most common Rail outside of Europe. Rails are aquatic birds but Moorhens' toes are not lobed, unlike Coots.More photos...