What does the Common Gallinule eat?

The Common Gallinule's diet shapes where and when you'll find it. Understanding what it eats helps you predict where to look.

Diet overview

Omnivore

How it forages

Forages by picking food from the water surface, dabbling, or walking on floating vegetation. Diet consists of a wide variety of plant material (seeds, leaves, stems of aquatic plants) and small invertebrates (insects, snails, worms, tadpoles). Occasionally eats small fish or eggs of other birds.

When it feeds

Diurnal, most active during early morning and late afternoon.

Explore the Common Gallinule