Purple Gallinule (Porphyrio martinica), Gilbert Water Ranch , Maricopa County

This adult Purple Gallinule was first identified and reported by Gary Nunn on 05 September 2009 at the N end of Pond 4 at the Gilbert Water Ranch.  It was photographed by Terry Thomas on 05 September 2009, by Pierre Deviche on 06 September 2009 and Brendon Grice on 07 September 2009.  However, it appears the bird has been present for some time and not identified.  It was photographed by Bee Amato on 2 September 2009 and there is another possible report from 30 August 2009. 

This the potential 13th state record for Purple Gallinule and only the 4th report since 2000, with the previous 3 records from this century all from Sweetwater Wetlands in Tucson.  There is one previous report from Maricopa county in 1991but it was not accepted by the Arizona Bird Committee (even though the first published report by the committee erroneously reported that it had been accepted).  If the present report is accepted it would be the first accepted record for Maricopa County. 

Wonderful purple and green colored plumage, tricolored bill and shield, white undertail coverts, big yellow legs!

05 September 2009, photo by Terry Thomas

06 September 2009, photo by Pierre Deviche

07 September 2009, photo by Brendon Grice

02 September 2009, photo by Bee Amato

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