Bird
🐦
🐦
Size
32–35 cmSimilar to a small duck
Weight
192–500 gAbout 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
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)
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