Merced National Wildlife Refuge - Common Gallinule (aka The Artist Formerly Named Common Moorhen)

crMNWR - Common Moorhen (3), originally uploaded by kimberzy.

This bird, like its similar looking cousin, the American Coot, is a member of the rail family. It was until recently called the Common Moorhen. This particular bird is a juvenile, as it is brownish and lacks the red face shield of the adult.