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7

Common Moorhen

(Gallinula chloropus)
Alternate name(s): "(Eurasian) Moorhen", "Common Gallinule", "Swamp Chicken", "Common Waterhen"
German name(s): "Teichralle", "Teichhuhn", "Rotbläßchen", "Grünfüssiges Teichhuhn"

Size: 30-38 cm; wing span 50-62 cm
Weight: 190-500 g

Similar
species

Description     Classification     Distribution     Sightings     Photos     Breeding     Nest     Eggs     Behaviour     Food     Call/s

Physical description

Click here for a physical description

Taxonomy, classification

See Common Moorhen at Wikipedia .

Range, habitat, finding this species

Click here for information on habitat and range

Sightings

Click here for sighting information

Photos

Race "chloropus"

This race is also called the "Eurasian Common Moorhen".

ADULT

Sex unknown

Near-frontal view of a Common Moorhen (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Albufeira de Vilarelhos, Alfandega da Fe, Braganca, Portugal, November 2021]

Near-lateral view of a Common Moorhen (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Almada, Setubal, Portugal, January 2023]

Lateral view of a Common Moorhen (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Almada, Setubal, Portugal, January 2023]

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)
[Badajoz, Spain, November 2021]

Dorsal view of a Common Moorhen (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Vila Franca de Xira, Tejo estuary, Portugal, October 2021]

Near-dorsal view of a Common Moorhen in flight (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Near Mora, Evora, Portugal, May 2015]

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)
[Raia river, Mora, Evora, Portugal, November 2020]

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 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]

Breeding information

Breeding season: Mar - Sep? Eggs: 6 - 10 Incubation period: ca. 21 days Fledging age: 40 - 50 days

Nest building: Female & male Incubation: Female & male Dependent care: Female & male

The duration of the breeding season depends on geographic latitude. The values listed in the table above are for the temperate areas in Europe. During the breeding season Common Moorhens are territorial and males will chase away intruders into their territories. The number of eggs listed above is for the first brood of the season. If a second attempt is made, there tend to be only 5-8 eggs. Nests made be reused by different females. The young are precocial, i.e. they leave the nest shortly after hatching.

Nest

Type: Basket Material: Reeds Height above ground: N/A

Near-lateral view of a Common Moorhen carrying nest material (photo courtesy of H. Dahlem-Senger)
[Neuharlingersiel, Ostfriesland, Germany, June 2021]

Lateral view of a Common Moorhen carrying nest material (photo courtesy of H. Dahlem-Senger)
[Neuharlingersiel, Ostfriesland, Germany, June 2021]

Dorsal view of a Common Moorhen delivering nest material (photo courtesy of H. Dahlem-Senger)
[Neuharlingersiel, Ostfriesland, Germany, June 2021]

Close-up frontal view of a Common Moorhen on its nest (photo courtesy of H. Dahlem-Senger)
[Neuharlingersiel, Ostfriesland, Germany, June 2021]

Eggs

Size: 42 x 29 mm Colour: Light-brown, with sparse mid- to dark-brown speckles Shape: Tapered oval

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]

Food, Diet

Common Moorhen with parts of an aquatic 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]

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
moorhen_jp_20200615.m4a chloropus
(Portugal)
? (+ House Sparrow) © JP

More Common Moorhen sound recordings are available at xeno-canto.org .

These pages are largely based on our own observations and those of our contributors. The structure of these bird pages is explained HERE. For more salient facts on any bird species please refer to a field guide.

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