Photo: Charles J. Sharp / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Lesser Moorhen
Paragallinula angulata
Lesser Moorhen (Paragallinula angulata) — Cranes & Rails of Africa.
Found across 8 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Lesser Moorhen (Paragallinula angulata) is a member of the Rallidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 130 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Gruiformes
- Family Rallidae Rails, Crakes & Coots
- Genus Paragallinula
- Species angulata
Quick facts
- Weight
- 130 g
- Diet
- Omnivores
- Family
- Rallidae
- Order
- Gruiformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Similar birds
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Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Lesser Moorhen is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Behaviour
A bird of wetlands, it uses a wide range of foraging strategies.
Migration
The Lesser Moorhen is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Lesser Moorhen (Paragallinula angulata) is a species of bird in the Rallidae family, part of the order Gruiformes. It is found across Africa. Its distribution covers AF widespread.
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 130 g, with a wing length of about 13.3 cm and a tail of around 6 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 11.7 million km² — a very large global range.
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Lesser Moorhen?
The Lesser Moorhen is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 130 g.
Where does the Lesser Moorhen live?
The Lesser Moorhen is found across Africa with a range covering AF widespread, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the Lesser Moorhen belong to?
The Lesser Moorhen (Paragallinula angulata) belongs to the Rallidae family, in the order Gruiformes.
What does the Lesser Moorhen eat?
The Lesser Moorhen is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Does the Lesser Moorhen migrate?
The Lesser Moorhen is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Lesser Moorhen endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Lesser Moorhen make?
1 real field recording of the Lesser Moorhen — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Lesser Moorhen's range?
The Lesser Moorhen has a mapped global range of about 11.7 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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