1. A small to medium-sized wading bird of the rail family, typically found in marshes and wetlands, with long legs, a short tail, and a frontal shield on the head.
Usage: Common in North America and other regions; Often seen in freshwater marshes and ponds

Examples

• The gallinule picked its way carefully through the marsh vegetation.
• We spotted a purple gallinule near the pond's edge during our nature walk.
• Gallinules are excellent swimmers despite their long legs.
• The bird watcher identified the gallinule by its distinctive red frontal shield.
• A flock of gallinules nested in the wetland preserve.
• The gallinule's long toes help it walk on floating plants.