| Common Moorhen | |
|---|---|
 A moorhen and her chicks. | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Gruiformes |
| Family: | Rallidae |
| Genus: | Gallinula |
| Species: | Gallinula chloropus |
The Common Moorhen, (Gallinula chloropus), is common bird in the family Rallidae. It is often found at parks and can become quite tame.
Appearance[]
Moorhens are 31-35 cm long and weigh 185-447 g. They have red beaks with a yellow tip, greenish-yellow legs, and dark grey-blueish heads and underparts. Adults have a dark brown back and wings, and a white stripe along their side. Unlike Coots, Moorhens don't have lobed toes.
Voice[]
Calls include a hoarse "kreck" and a loud, squeaky "kikiki".
Behavior[]
young moorhens
Moorhens are often wary, but can become quite tame in urban areas, and are often seen in parks, eating food thrown to ducks. When they are in danger, or in search of food, moorhens will dive underwater and stay submerged for a surprisingly long amount of time. Moorhens swim with jerky movements and while flying let their legs dangle.
Feeding[]
Moorhens eat many different things, including bread or other food used for feeding birds, but they mainly feed on invertebrates, aquatic plants, tadpoles, and different types of seed. They can feed when swimming or when on land.
Nesting[]
Moorhen nests are floating cup-shaped platforms made of plant material. The breeding season goes from April to June, with two broods being raised each year. The clutch can be anything from 2 to 17, the eggs are greenish or beige, and have dark markings. Incubation lasts 21-22 days. The young are precocious.
Distribution and habitat[]
Found in most of Europe, Africa and southern Asia, Common Moorhens breed in all kinds of wetlands, from lakes, to marshes, to estuaries. They are a common sight in city parks.
Similar species[]
- Common Gallinule
- Eurasian Coot
Gallery[]
