Subspecies
In addition to the nominate form, there are Pleistocene populations known from fossils; they were distinct (generally larger) birds and probably the direct ancestors of some of today's Common Moorhens: The stout and long-winged paleosubspecies G. c. brodkorbi is known from the Ichetucknee River deposits in Florida; it was originally described as a distinct species. The presence of fossils typical of the shorter-winged and more delicate G. c. cerceris in the same deposits suggests that brodkorbi was not ancestral to the "Florida Gallinule" of our time but rather to the more northernly "Common Gallinule".
| List of subspecies by date of description | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Common and trinomial names |
Description | Range | |
| Southern American Common Gallinule G. g. galeata |
|
Wings and back are fairly uniform dark brownish slate grey. | Found in Trinidad, the Guyanas, and from Brazil south of the Amazonas to North Argentina and Uruguay. |
| Andean Common Gallinule G. g. garmani |
Similar to galeata, but larger. | Found in the Andes from Peru to Northwest Argentina. | |
| Antillean Common Gallinule G. g. cerceris Known as Florida Gallinule in the USA. |
|
Has a long bill and large feet and is less brown above. | Found in the Antilles, except Trinidad and Barbados; also found in South Florida. |
| North American Common Gallinule G. g. cachinnans Also known as Common Gallinule and Marsh Hen. |
|
Similar to cerceris, but upperparts coloration more like chloropus. | Ranges from Southeast Canada south through the USA, excluding the Great Plains region, to West Panama; also found in the Galápagos and Bermuda. |
| Subandean Common Gallinule G. g. pauxilla |
Similar to cerceris, but smaller. | Found in lowland areas of East Panama south to Northwest Peru. | |
| Barbados Gallinule G. g. barbadensis |
Similar to cerceris, but with lighter head and neck, and less dull grey overall. | Endemic to Barbados. | |
Read more about this topic: Common Gallinule