Common Moorhen

Gallinula chloropus (Linnaeus, 1758)

Common Moorhen, Gallinula chloropus, is a rail in the family Rallidae and breeds widely across the Palearctic, Africa, the Indian Ocean, the Oriental Region and the Pacific Ocean. It lives in marshes, ponds, canals, rivers, lakes and other wet places, including well-vegetated sites and city parks. A red frontal shield and a red bill with a yellow tip help to identify it, along with yellow legs and white markings beneath the tail and on the flanks. It is a resident breeder in many areas, though some populations move when waters freeze.

Order

Gruiformes

Family

Rallidae — Rails, Crakes & Coots

Breeding range

Palearctic, Africa, Indian Ocean, Oriental Region, Pacific Ocean: widespread