About the Common Moorhen
The common moorhen, also known as the waterhen, is a bird species in the rail family (Rallidae). It is distributed across many parts of the Old World, across Africa, Europe, and Asia. It lives around well-vegetated marshes, ponds, canals and other wetlands. The species is not found in the polar regions or many tropical rainforests; generally it is one of the most common Old World rail species, together with the Eurasian coot in some regions.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
ID tip
The moorhen is a distinctive species, with predominantly black and brown plumage, with the exception of a white under-tail, white streaks on the flanks, yellow legs and a red frontal shield. The bill is red with a yellow tip. The young are browner and lack the red shield. The frontal shield of the adult has a rounded top and fairly parallel sides; the tailward margin of the red unfeathered area is a smooth waving line. The subspecies G. c. meridionalis is smaller than the nominate, has slaty blue-grey upperwing coverts and lacks the olive wash. Subspecies G. c. orientalis is similar to G. c.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
What the Common Moorhen sounds like
Where it lives
Recorded as a rare visitor in Australia, Central African Republic, Burundi, Equatorial Guinea, Guinea, Sierra Leone, Monaco.
When to see it
Peak activity in January · a resident species across most of its range
Easily confused with
Side by side: Common Moorhen vs Dusky Moorhen
Learn the Common Moorhen for real
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