Wildlife
Common moorhens are widespread throughout Europe, South America, Africa and India. In Britain they are a fairly common sight near most aquatic environments, and they are excellent swimmers. Unusually, it is the female birds who fight amongst themselves for mating rights to males. Moorhens are incredibly resourceful - scientists recorded an incident where during heavy rain a bird incubating eggs was seen to cover itself with a sheet of polythene like a cape, then remove it once the rain stopped.
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Moorhen nesting habits
Iolo Williams visits the Penclacwydd wetlands reserve in Llanelli.
Iolo Williams visits the Penclacwydd wetlands reserve in Llanelli to look at how moorhens nest there.
Battle lines
If badges of rank fail, moorhen rivals resort to a violent fight.
If badges of rank fail, moorhen rivals resort to a violent fight.
Missing moorhen
A moorhen chick is left behind and the father struggles to return it to the nest.
A moorhen chick is left behind and the father struggles to return it to the nest.
Cat fight
The fight for fat males brings out a violent streak in female moorhens.
The fight for fat males brings out a violent streak in female moorhens.
Species range provided by WWF's Wildfinder.
The Common moorhen can be found in a number of locations including: Africa, Amazon Rainforest, Asia, China, Europe, Indian subcontinent, Madagascar, Mediterranean, North America, Russia, South America, United Kingdom, Wales. Find out more about these places and what else lives there.
The following habitats are found across the Common moorhen distribution range. Find out more about these environments, what it takes to live there and what else inhabits them.
Discover what these behaviours are and how different plants and animals use them.
Additional data source: Animal Diversity Web
Least Concern
Year assessed: 2009
Classified by: IUCN 3.1
The Common Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus) (also known as the "swamp chicken") is a bird in the Rallidae family with an almost worldwide distribution. The North and South American Committees of the American Ornithologists' Union and the International Ornithological Committee have voted on or before July 2011 to split the American forms into a new species Common Gallinule, and implemented that decision; however, no other committee has voted to change taxonomy yet.
The Common Moorhen lives around well-vegetated marshes, ponds, canals and other wetlands. The species is not found in the polar regions, or many tropical rainforests. Elsewhere it is likely the most common rail species, except for the Eurasian Coot or American Coot in some regions.
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Lakes and ponds
Marsh
Rivers and streams
Swamp
Urban
Wetlands
Hierarchical
Adapted to flying
Acoustic communication
Monogamous
Egg layer
Parental investment
Active at birth
Social
Territorial
Visual communication