Mr Perfect

Allen’s Gallinule Porphyrio martinicus

This little guy, sometimes referred to as the Lesser Gallinule, is an uncommon resident in Southern Africa and partial migrant to seasonally flooded areas.

We found him co-habitating with the African Jacanas and Black Crakes in dense river reeds and water-lily fields. Like his co-habitants he can navigate these ares by walking along the densely packed water-lily leaves.

This prime example of this somewhat aloof creature was captured in the early morning on the Chobe River, near Kasane, northern Botswana, Southern Africa.