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Common MoorhenAlternate name(s): "(Eurasian) Moorhen", "Common Gallinule", "Swamp Chicken", "Common Waterhen" ![]() Size: 30-38 cm; wing span 50-62 cm Weight: 190-500 g |
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Similar species |
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Photos |
Race "chloropus"
This race is also called the "Eurasian Common Moorhen".
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ADULT |
Sex unknown |
Lateral view of a Common Moorhen; note the characteristic
red and yellow bill
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, September 2019]
Lateral view of a Common Moorhen
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Hyde Park, London, England, September 2019]
Lateral view of a Common Moorhen
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Near Mora, Evora, Portugal, June 2018]
Near-dorsal view of a Common Moorhen; note the two white undertail
spots, as opposed to the
Western
Swamphen's one
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Terceira Island, Azores, November 2018]
Near-dorsal view of a Common Moorhen in flight
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Near Mora, Evora, Portugal, May 2015]
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IMMATURE/JUVENILE |
Frontal view of a juvenile Common Moorhen, with a second in
the background (photo courtesy of H. Dahlem-Senger)
[Dreieich, Hessen, Germany, September 2017]
Near-frontal view of a juvenile Common Moorhen
(photo courtesy of H. Dahlem-Senger)
[Dreieich, Hessen, Germany, September 2017]
Lateral view of a juvenile Common Moorhen
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Hyde Park, London, England, September 2019]
Lateral view of a juvenile Common Moorhen
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Near Lisbon, Portugal, June 2014]
Lateral view of a juvenile Common Moorhen; click on photo to see
Mallard ducks
for comparison
(photo courtesy of H. Dahlem-Senger)
[Dreieich, Hessen, Germany, September 2017]
Near-dorsal view of a juvenile Common Moorhen
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Sorraia River, near Mora, Evora, Portugal, June 2019]
Near-dorsal view of a juvenile Common Moorhen
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Hyde Park, London, England, September 2019]
Near-dorsal view of a juvenile Common Moorhen
(photo courtesy of H. Dahlem-Senger)
[Dreieich, Hessen, Germany, September 2017]
Near-dorsal view of a juvenile Common Moorhen
(photo courtesy of H. Dahlem-Senger)
[Dreieich, Hessen, Germany, September 2017]
Lateral view of a Common Moorhen with a chick
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Near Mora, Evora, Portugal, June 2018]
Near-dorsal view of a Common Moorhen with a chick
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Near Mora, Evora, Portugal, June 2018]
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Behaviour |
Male Common Moorhens can be seen in cockfights; here the
initial challenge...
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Near Mora, Evora, Portugal, June 2015]
... then one gains the upper hand ...
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Near Mora, Evora, Portugal, June 2015]
... before chasing the challenger from the field
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Near Mora, Evora, Portugal, June 2015]
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Food, Diet |
Common Moorhen with parts of an underwater plant
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Near Mora, Evora, Portugal, December 2014]
Mob of Common Moorhen feeding together on aquatic plants
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Near Mora, Evora, Portugal, January 2018]
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Call(s)/Song |
For this species we have recorded the following call(s)/song. The
interpretation of their meaning is our own;
comments and suggestions for improvement are welcome.
moorhen_dw_20200726.m4a |
chloropus (Poland) |
Contact calls? | © DW | |
moorhen_jp_20190703.m4a |
chloropus (Portugal) |
? | © JP |
More Common Moorhen sound recordings are available at
xeno-canto.org
.