Common Moorhen
Gallinula chloropus
Its hallmarks are the red frontal shield with a yellow bill tip and the constantly flicking tail that flashes the white undertail feathers. It jerks its head while swimming, and in parks it often walks over water-lily leaves with little shyness.
- Group
- Moods
- Photos
- 4
- Taken
- 2024–2025
Profile: Common Moorhen
- Family
- Rails (Rallidae)
- Size
- approx. 30–38 cm
- Wingspan
- approx. 50–62 cm
- Weight
- approx. 190–500 g
- Habitat
- Still and slow-flowing waters with dense marginal vegetation, from reed-fringed lakes to park ponds.
- Diet
- Omnivore: parts of marsh and aquatic plants, seeds, buds, insects, snails and other small animals.
- When to see
- In Central Europe mostly resident or a partial migrant and seen year-round; moves to open water when ponds freeze.
Learn more: Wikipedia · NABU (German)