Brown to Blue

We're in full swing of summer babies here at Green Cay. The Common Moorhens, Mottled Ducks, and Purple Gallinules are all working on their second or third brood and the juveniles are growing up. When Purple Gallinule are born they look just like their dark moorhen relatives except they lack the completely bald head. These little black puffballs eventually change into a lovely fawn color. I love the young gallinules because during this brown phase they start to get hints of the adult coloration. Little flashes of iridescence come out of the muted colors. And eventually the young molt into the splendid celebration of blue and green and purple. Not to mention that they also have that otherworldly looking bill of candy corn colors. Here's a selection of photos from a family group. The first two show you the young gallinule and the last three show you one of the parents.

The look that the adult gave me served as a warning to stay back from the young chicks. This adult eventually hopped up on the boardwalk beside me and stared me down. I left without any more warning.