- One of several wading birds, having long, webless toes,
and a frontal shield, belonging to the family Rallidae. They are
remarkable for running rapidly over marshes and on floating plants. The
purple gallinule of America is Ionornis Martinica, that of the Old
World is Porphyrio porphyrio. The common European gallinule (Gallinula
chloropus) is also called moor hen, water hen, water rail, moor coot,
night bird, and erroneously dabchick. Closely related to it is the
Florida gallinule (Gallinula galeata).
- A diving bird - Aquatic bird - Avoid Donald - Water bird - A wading bird with lobate toes, of the genus Fulica. - The surf duck or scoter. In the United States all the species
of (/demia are called coots. See Scoter. - A stupid fellow; a simpleton; as, a silly coot.
- A waterbird - Aquatic bird - Diving waterbird - Wading bird - Water bird - Waterbird - One of several swimming birds or divers, of the genus
Colymbus (formerly Podiceps), and allied genera, found in the northern
parts of America, Europe, and Asia. They have strong, sharp bills, and
lobate toes.