Gough Moorhen
Gallinula comeri
A medium-sized dark moorhen restricted to the Tristan da Cunha islands. Similar to Common Moorhen, which is a vagrant to the Tristan group, but stouter, with a black neck and underparts, no white on the flanks, and mostly red legs blotched with yellow (not all yellow as in Common). Juvenile has yellow legs but is flightless. Native to Gough Island and introduced on Tristan Island. Fairly common but somewhat secretive on both islands, preferring tussock grass and thickets below 500 meters of elevation. Calls include an electric rapid “cher-cher-chuk” and a soft “ek” in contact.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Gallinula comeri
- Authority
- (Allen, JA, 1892)
- Order
- Gruiformes
- Family
- Rallidae
- Genus
- Gallinula
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Resident species
Conservation
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Other Birds
White-bellied Antpitta
Grallaria hypoleuca
Typical antpitta with long legs and short tail. Inhabits Andean cloud forest in Colombia, eastern Ecuador, and extreme northern Peru. Note chestnut upperparts and white underparts that may show a faint yellowish tinge. Terrestrial and heard far more often than seen. Typical song is three clear whistles, with a slight pause after the first note. It is easy to imitate.
Chestnut-crowned Babbler
Pomatostomus ruficeps
Large, conspicuous songbird with long decurved bill, gray mask, whitish eyebrow, chestnut crown, pale wingbars, and dark eye. White throat and breast with black border extends to upper belly; lower belly and undertail dark. Forages mostly on the ground in noisy flocks, in dry open woodlands of southeastern Australia.
Olivaceous Greenlet
Hylophilus olivaceus
A small, vociferous vireo of east Andean cloud forest. Yellow underparts and crown, pale eye, and pinkish bill help separate it from other species in range. Usually stays high in the trees and sometimes follows mixed-species flocks. Sings frequently, belting out a squeaky and sometimes monotonous series of notes such as “twee-twee-twee…” or “soowe-soowe-soowe …”
Start Your Bird Watching Journey
Identify a bird outdoors and keep the field guide close for your next observation.