Skip to main content
Please wait...
"Purple Gallinule," in Alexander Wilson, American Ornithology; or The Natural History of the Birds of the United States, 9 vols. (Philadelphia, 1808-1814), 9: plate 73 (detail) / Biodiversity Heritage Library / Smithsonian Libraries / https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/46337935IMAGE INFORMATION

A bird . . . thought to be the Porphyri-Americanus

Object Status:

Unlocated

Accession Date:

March 29, 1794

Primary Source Reference:

New-York Daily Gazette, 29 Mar 1794

Additional Source Text:

"Which flew on board a vessel passing through the Gulph stream. It is thought to be the Porphyri-Americanus, a very beautiful species of the Brazillian Moor Hen; the very existence of which, has been doubted by several authors."

Notes:

This was very likely the American purple gallinule (Porphyrio martinica).

Specimen Type:

Dead/preserved

Peale's Scientific Name:

Porphyri Americanus

Current Common Name:

American purple gallinule

Current Scientific Name

Porphyrio martinica