Gallinules are aquatic birds belonging to the family Rallidae. They are also known as marsh hens, moorhens or swamphens. These birds are small to medium-sized, and possess sharp beaks that aid them in catching prey. Their plumage is typically dark with iridescent colors, and they have long toes that allow them to walk on floating vegetation. Other synonyms commonly used to refer to gallinules include waterhens, purple gallinules, common gallinules, and mudhens. Despite their relatively large number of synonyms, these birds are often overlooked and underappreciated due to their secretive habits. Nonetheless, they remain an important element of wetland ecosystems across the globe.