Sunday 22 March 2015

Common Moorhen.



A resident breeder found around my patch pond is the [Common] Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus)

A member of the Rallidae family with its distinctive long toes that enable it to walk on water, when frozen, and on waterside vegetation. Generally quite secretive although can be very bold in some locations and often utters an explosive bubbling or gargling call when it reveals its presence.


A very nervous species that frequently twitches its tail revealing the v-shaped white sides to the undertail coverts. Known by various names including Common Waterhen, Marsh Hen and River Chicken.

Its poster red bill dipped in yellow make it very easy to distinguish it from other water birds.


Linking to I'D-Rather-B-Birdin' and Wild Bird Wednesday. 

14 comments:

  1. a favorite bird I would love to get this close too. Gorgeous images :)

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  2. Lovely reflection. Amazing how colourful their beaks are in contrast to their black and white feathers!

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  3. Very smart looking they are too. Great images Frank.

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  4. Love that colourful bill! Great shots Frank.

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  5. They are so fascinating! You got some great photos.

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  6. Wonderful photos. Pretty cool bird full of personality:)

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  7. Nice shots Frank. They are good for action pics this time of the year.

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  8. Great photos and it is very interesting to compare that bird with the various moorhens we see out here. Thanks for the latin name - it does help to sort them out!

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  9. Beautiful shots!

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  10. I love the way Moorhen's tail Bob up and. Down

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  11. At last a bird in your patch that I've actually seen! But have certainly not gotten such good pictures of.

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  12. Fantásticas imágenes Frank, saludos cordiales desde España.

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  13. Wonderful series on the Moorhen! It seems the longer I watch their behavior the more amusing they become.

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I hope you enjoyed your visit and I appreciate your comments.