Bird 🐦
🐦
Gallinula chloropus
| Size | 32–35 cm Similar to a small duck |
|---|---|
| Weight | 192–500 g About the weight of a can of beans |
| Lifespan | 3 years |
| Rarity | Common |
| M vs F | Sexes look identical — both have the distinctive red and yellow bill shield |
| Habitat | Ponds, lakes, rivers, ditches, canals — any freshwater with marginal vegetation |
| Best time | Year-round |
| Conservation | UK: Green LC |
Did you know?
Moorhen chicks from the first brood help their parents raise the second brood — a rare example of cooperative breeding where older siblings act as helpers
Moorhen chicks from the first brood help their parents raise the second brood — a rare example of cooperative breeding where older siblings act as helpers
More for experts
Their long toes spread their weight across floating vegetation, allowing them to walk on lily pads and floating debris — effectively the freshwater equivalent of the Jesus bird
Often confused with
Coot (all black, white bill shield, no red, dives), Waterhen (same species, regional name)
Coot (all black, white bill shield, no red, dives), Waterhen (same species, regional name)