Eurasian Moorhen
Gallinula chloropus
Distinctive dark waterbird that resembles a cross between a duck and a chicken. Adults have a bright red bill with a yellow tip, while immatures have a duller bill and legs. Note big white oval patches under the tail, and white streaks along the flanks. Inhabits fresh and brackish marshes, on ponds, lakes, and along slow-moving watercourses with bordering vegetation. Smaller and more retiring than coot, and rarely far out on open water. Swims with jerky motion and walks with stealthy gait, the tail often slightly cocked; does not usually dive. Gives a variety of loud, somewhat frog-like calls.
Identification
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. In the related common gallinule (Gallinula galeata) of the Americas, the frontal shield has a fairly straight top and is less wide towards the bill, giving a marked indentation to the back margin of the red area.<p>The common moorhen gives a wide range of gargling calls and will emit loud hisses when threatened. A midsized to large rail, it can range from 30 to 38 cm (12 to 15 in) in length and span 50 to 62 cm (20 to 24 in) across the wings. The body mass of this species can range from 192 to 500 g (6.8 to 17.6 oz).
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Gallinula chloropus
- Authority
- (Linnaeus, 1758)
- Order
- Gruiformes
- Family
- Rallidae
- Genus
- Gallinula
Range and habitat
This is a common breeding and resident bird in marsh environments, rivers, well-vegetated lakes and even in city parks. Populations in areas where the waters freeze, such as eastern Europe, will migrate to more temperate climates. In China, common moorhen populations are largely resident south of the Yangtze River, whilst northern populations migrate in the winter, therefore these populations show high genetic diversity.
- Migration
- Complete migrants
Behavior
This species will consume a wide variety of vegetable material and small aquatic creatures. They forage beside or in the water, sometimes walking on lilypads or upending in the water to feed. They are often secretive, but can become tame in some areas. Despite loss of habitat in parts of its range, the common moorhen remains plentiful and widespread.<p>The birds are territorial during breeding season, and will fight with other members of their species, as well as other water birds such as ducks, to drive them out of their territory. The nest is a basket built on the ground in dense vegetation. Laying starts in spring, between mid-March and mid-May in Northern hemisphere temperate regions. About 8 eggs are usually laid per female early in the season; a brood later in the year usually has only 5–8 or fewer eggs. Nests may be re-used by different females. Incubation lasts about three weeks. Both parents incubate and feed the young. These fledge after 40–50 days, become independent usually a few weeks thereafter, and may raise their first brood the next spring. When threatened, the young may cling to the parents' body, after which the adult birds fly away to safety, carrying their offspring with them.
Conservation
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Oriental Cuckooshrike
Coracina javensis
A large gray cuckooshrike with a strong, hooked bill. Upperparts are mostly gray with black primaries; male darker than female. Rump and upper tail are paler than back, which is apparent in flight. Male has gray throat and upper breast becoming paler on the belly. Female generally has paler underparts with faint gray bars except from the lower belly to the tail. Both sexes have a dark patch from the bill to slightly behind the eye, giving a masked impression. Juvenile is brownish, heavily scaled with whitish-buff, and mottled on the underparts. Immature has broader white edges to wing feathers. Vocal. Call is a two-noted, rather nasal “gii-yaak,” uttered in flight as well as from a perch. Inhabits lightly wooded country, avoiding wet forests.
Wattled Guan
Aburria aburri
Distinctive guan: all black with cerulean bill, yellowish-orange legs, and thin yellow dewlap. Could be confused with Sickle-winged Guan, which is smaller and has warm brown underparts. Occurs in the subtropical zone of the Andes from Venezuela to Peru, from around 1,200 to 2,200 m. Surprisingly difficult to see as it forages in the middle to upper levels of dense forest; rarely perches in the open. Most often detected by its amazing voice, a strange alien-like call that rises and falls.
Northern Pied-Babbler
Turdoides hypoleuca
A boldly marked babbler with gray-brown upperparts and mostly white underparts. Also note the pale eye and variable gray-brown blotching on the sides and on the breast. Found in woodland, thickets, and lush scrub, almost always in small groups which forage by hopping across the ground. Similar in shape and size to other babblers, but easily separated by the strikingly light-and-dark plumage. Nasal babbling call is frequently given, usually by a whole group in chorus.
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