gallinule
noun
gal·li·nule ˈga-lə-ˌnül 
-ˌnyül
: any of several aquatic birds of the rail family with long thin feet and a platelike frontal area on the head: such as
a
: moorhen
b
: one (Porphyrula martinica) found from the southern U.S. to Argentina that is purplish blue with olive-green upperparts, a red and yellow bill, and a light blue frontal area
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web An American white pelican, a common gallinule, and two common ravens were all seen on the island. 
BostonGlobe.com, 30 Oct. 2021 Highlights included a cattle egret in South Hadley, four black vultures in Hadley, a common gallinule in Hatfield, and two evening grosbeaks in Amherst. BostonGlobe.com, 6 Nov. 2021 In Taunton, a common gallinule was seen at Lake Sabbatia. BostonGlobe.com, 23 Oct. 2021 Required to hunt any migratory game bird (waterfowl, coot, rail, gallinule, snipe, dove, sandhill crane and woodcock) in combination with a Federal Duck Stamp and HIP Certification for waterfowl hunters 16 years of age and older. Matt Williams, Dallas News, 14 Aug. 2021 Some interesting waterfowl recorded at South Monomoy Island included 10 gadwalls, four blue-winged teal, two Northern shovelers, three green-winged teal, and two ruddy ducks, as well as a sora, a common gallinule, and two American coots. BostonGlobe.com, 19 June 2021 Many predators such as mountain lions, coyotes and bobcats are included in the proposals alongside game species such as mule deer, antelope and several bird species, including snipe, gallinule and merganser. Debra Utacia Krol, azcentral, 11 Apr. 2020 At Tidmarsh Wildlife Sanctuary, observers found a common gallinule, as well as 25 American wigeons and 12 field sparrows. BostonGlobe.com, 16 Dec. 2019 There are more than 360 species of birds, including the great blue heron and the diminutive green variety, purple gallinules and roseate spoonbills, the white ibis and the black skimmer. Allen G. Breed, sun-sentinel.com, 3 Dec. 2019 See More
BostonGlobe.com, 30 Oct. 2021 Highlights included a cattle egret in South Hadley, four black vultures in Hadley, a common gallinule in Hatfield, and two evening grosbeaks in Amherst. BostonGlobe.com, 6 Nov. 2021 In Taunton, a common gallinule was seen at Lake Sabbatia. BostonGlobe.com, 23 Oct. 2021 Required to hunt any migratory game bird (waterfowl, coot, rail, gallinule, snipe, dove, sandhill crane and woodcock) in combination with a Federal Duck Stamp and HIP Certification for waterfowl hunters 16 years of age and older. Matt Williams, Dallas News, 14 Aug. 2021 Some interesting waterfowl recorded at South Monomoy Island included 10 gadwalls, four blue-winged teal, two Northern shovelers, three green-winged teal, and two ruddy ducks, as well as a sora, a common gallinule, and two American coots. BostonGlobe.com, 19 June 2021 Many predators such as mountain lions, coyotes and bobcats are included in the proposals alongside game species such as mule deer, antelope and several bird species, including snipe, gallinule and merganser. Debra Utacia Krol, azcentral, 11 Apr. 2020 At Tidmarsh Wildlife Sanctuary, observers found a common gallinule, as well as 25 American wigeons and 12 field sparrows. BostonGlobe.com, 16 Dec. 2019 There are more than 360 species of birds, including the great blue heron and the diminutive green variety, purple gallinules and roseate spoonbills, the white ibis and the black skimmer. Allen G. Breed, sun-sentinel.com, 3 Dec. 2019 See More Word History
Etymology
borrowed from New Latin Gallinula, genus that includes the moorhen, going back to Latin gallīnula "chicken," from gallīna "hen" + -ula -ule — more at gallinaceous
First Known Use
1776, in the meaning defined above