Gallinula chloropus

Description

The adult common moorhen has a gray front, a brown back, a white patch on its tail, and white shoulder patches. It has long yellowish-green legs and a red bill with a yellow tip. It also has a bright red forehead shield. The nonbreeding bird has a dark gray head and the breeding bird has a black head. The young common moorhen has a light gray head, a white throat, and a brown bill and forehead shield.

Voice

The common moorhen makes clucking and croaking notes (like a frog). It also says "pep pep pep per per peer peeer per" and "kek kek kek."

Breeding

February to September

Habitat

Common moorhens live in marshes and ponds that have plenty of plants.

Diet

The common moorhen eats underwater plants, duckweed, seeds, berries, and grass and herb leaves. They also eat insects, worms, and snails.

Range

You can find the common moorhen along the southern coast of the United States year-round. It lives in the northernmost and central United States (including VT) in the summertime.

Other Useful Information

The common moorhen used to be named the common gallinule.

Similar Species

The American coot is fatter-looking than the common moorhen and has a gray back. Also, you will not find the American coot in VT or NH.