Common Moorhen
Gallinula chloropus
Aves › Gruiformes › Rallidae › Gallinula
Conservation status: least_concern
This is a midsized to large rail that can range from 30 to 38 cm in length. It consumes a wide variety of vegetable material and small aquatic creatures.
How To Identify
A medium-sized puddle duck recognized by its olive-brown body and iridescent emerald-green head and neck in males; females are duller brown, making the contrasting yellow bill a key feature.
Habitat
It inhabits freshwater wetlands including marshes, reed beds, ponds, lakes, and slow-moving rivers across temperate and subtropical regions of Europe, Asia, Africa, and Oceania.
Behaviour
Moorhens are highly territorial and vocal birds that produce loud, explosive calls to defend their territory, and they often raise multiple broods per season with older chicks helping to feed younger siblings.
Native Range
The Common Moorhen is native to Old World regions across Africa, Europe, and Asia.
Did You Know?
Common Moorhens have distinctive red and yellow bills, and chicks can swim within hours of hatching. They often bob their heads while walking, giving them a characteristically comical gait.
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