Dark gray to almost black in color, with a duller chin and throat. This species has white on the edges of the wings and rump. Legs are bright yellow-green. The bill of this species is yellow with a frontal shield that is bright red.
Not Threatened.
Dark gray to almost black in color, with a duller chin and throat. This species has white on the edges of the wings and rump. Legs are bright yellow-green. The bill of this species is yellow with a frontal shield that is bright red.
Mass: 192 to 493 g; avg. 300 g Length: 30 to 38 cm; avg. 34 cm Wingspan: 50 to 55 cm; avg. 52.50 cm. A medium to large sized gallinule.
Taxonomy:
- Fulica Chloropus Linnaeus, 1758, England. Sometimes considered conspecific with G. tenebrosa, or to form superspecies, but the two are sympatric in Wallacea. Many other races described; possible races correiana and indica included in nominate. Twelve subspecies recognized. (source: Handbook of the Birds of World)
Subspecies and Distribution:
- * chloropus (Linnaeus, 1758) - Europe, North Africa, Azores, Canaries and Cape Verde Is E through W, C & S Asia to Japan, S to Sri Lanka and C Malaysia; N populations winter S to Mediterranean region, sub-Saharan Africa and S Asia. * meridionalis (C. L. Brehm, 1831) - sub-Saharan Africa and St Helena. * pyrrhorrhoa A. Newton, 1861 - Madagascar, Reunion, Mauritius and Comoros Is. * orientalis Horsfield, 1821 - Seychelles, Andamans, S Malaysia and Greater & W Lesser Sundas to Philippines and Palau Is. * guami Hartert, 1917 - Northern Mariana Is. * ndvicensis Streets, 1877 - Hawaiian Is. * cachinnans Bangs, 1915 - SE Canada and USA through Central America to W Panama, also Bermuda and Galapagos; N populations winter S to Panama and possibly beyond. * cerceris Bangs, 1910 - Greater & Lesser Antilles. * barbadensis Bond, 1954 - Barbados. * pauxilla Bangs, 1915 - E Panama, N & W Colombia, W Ecuador and coastal NW Peru. * garmani Allen, 1876 - Andes of Peru, Chile, Bolivia and NW Argentina. * aleata (Lichtenstein, 1818) - Trinidad and the Guianas S through Brazil to N Argentina and Uruguay.
Common moorhens are found in many aquatic environments- man-made or natural, and in still or moving water. This species is partial to emergent aquatic vegetation which gives it adequate shelter. They are generally found in lowlands, up to 4575 m on passage though Nepal.
Common moorhens feed while floating in water or walking on plants. In water the bird feeds by dipping its head and "surface sifting". It is an opportunistic feeder, which means that it eats the most abundant foods available. This species also feeds on land, gleaning insects or grazing for vegetation, cereals, or fruits.
Breeding occurs at any time in tropical regions and during warmer seasons of the year elsewhere. Typically, 5 to 9 eggs are produced.Incubation takes from 17 to 22 days, with a clutch size of 2 to 17. The male is reported to feed the female during incubation. Male moorhens are the prime incubator, but both sexes participate in incubation. Chicks upon hatching are precocial and nidifugous. These chicks are cared for and fed by both parents.