Prakruti Parichay
RallidaeGallinula

Common Moorhen

Gallinula chloropus

32–35 cmMedium
Beak
—
Feet
—
Crest
No crest

Widespread resident and winter visitor. White lateral undertail-coverts. with black central stripe, and usually shows white line along flanks. Breeding adult has blackish head and neck, slate-grey underparts, and dark olive - brown upperparts; red bill with yellow tip and red frontals ield. Non-breeding adult has duller bill and legs. Juvenile has dull green bill, and is mainly brown with whitish throat, grey wash to breast and flanks, and variable whitish patch on belly. Immature resembles non-breeding adult, but has duller body plumage, with grey of underparts washed with brown and buff, whitish throat, and less prominent pale border to the flanks. Lakes, marshes and irrigation tanks; standing freshwater with emergent vegetation

Colour

WhiteBlackRedSlate
Average size
33.5 cm
Habitat
Lakes, marshes and irrigation tanks, standing freshwater with emergent vegetation
Behaviour
Widespread resident and winter visitor., ield. Non-breeding adult has duller bill and legs. Juvenile has dull green bill, and is mainly brown with whitish throat, grey wash to breast and flanks, and variable whitish patch on belly. Immature resembles non-breeding adult, but has duller body plumage, with grey of underparts washed with brown and buff, whitish throat, and less prominent pale border to the flanks.

About this bird

Widespread resident and winter visitor. White lateral undertail-coverts. with black central stripe, and usually shows white line along flanks. Breeding adult has blackish head and neck, slate-grey underparts, and dark olive - brown upperparts; red bill with yellow tip and red frontals ield. Non-breeding adult has duller bill and legs. Juvenile has dull green bill, and is mainly brown with whitish throat, grey wash to breast and flanks, and variable whitish patch on belly. Immature resembles non-breeding adult, but has duller body plumage, with grey of underparts washed with brown and buff, whitish throat, and less prominent pale border to the flanks. Lakes, marshes and irrigation tanks; standing freshwater with emergent vegetation

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Common Moorhen is bigger than Black Baza but smaller than Andaman Crake.

This bird

Common Moorhen

Gallinula chloropus

32–35 cm