Common Moorhen
Gallinula chloropus
Despite being waterbirds, they do not have webbed feet; instead, they have long, thin toes that distribute their weight across floating vegetation.
- Scientific name
- Gallinula chloropus
- Taxonomy
- Animalia › Chordata › Aves › Gruiformes › Rallidae › Gallinula
- IUCN Red List status
- Least Concern
- Population trend
- stable
- Biome
- wetland
- Habitat
- Freshwater marshes, ponds, canals, and lakes with abundant bankside vegetation.
- Diet
- Omnivorous; consumes aquatic plants, seeds, fruits, insects, snails, and small fish.
- Range
- Europe, Asia, Africa
- Size
- 30-38 cm in length with a wingspan of 50-62 cm.
- Lifespan
- 3-11 years
- Active
- diurnal
- Threats
- Wetland drainage, water pollution, and predation of eggs by invasive species like the American mink.
- Safe to approach?
- Harmless and generally shy. Observe from a distance of at least 5 meters to avoid causing stress or flight. They are safe to watch, but do not attempt to handle, as they may peck if cornered or protecting a nest.
The common moorhen ( Gallinula chloropus ) (also known as the waterhen and as the swamp chicken ) is a bird species in the family Rallidae. It is distributed across many parts of the Old World.
Photo: Alexis Lours, CC-BY, via iNaturalist
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