Photo: Monkey Boy from Johannesburg, South Africa / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Common Moorhen
Gallinula chloropus
Common Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus) — Cranes & Rails of Europe & Northern Asia.
Found across 12 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Common Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus) is a member of the Rallidae family found in Africa, Europe & Northern Asia and Oceans & Seabirds. Adults weigh 340 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 Gallinula
- Species chloropus
Quick facts
- Weight
- 340 g
- Diet
- Omnivores
- Family
- Rallidae
- Order
- Gruiformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Common Moorhen is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Behaviour
A bird of wetlands, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Common Moorhen is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Common Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus) is a species of bird in the Rallidae family, part of the order Gruiformes. Its range spans Africa, Europe & Northern Asia and Oceans & Seabirds. Its distribution covers PAL, AF, IO, OR, PO widespread.
It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 340 g, with a wing length of about 16.6 cm and a tail of around 6.9 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 38.5 million km² — a very large global range.
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Common Moorhen?
The Common Moorhen is a large bird that weighs around 340 g.
Where does the Common Moorhen live?
The Common Moorhen is found across Africa, Europe & Northern Asia and Oceans & Seabirds with a range covering PAL, AF, IO, OR, PO widespread, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the Common Moorhen belong to?
The Common Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus) belongs to the Rallidae family, in the order Gruiformes.
What does the Common Moorhen eat?
The Common Moorhen is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Does the Common Moorhen migrate?
The Common Moorhen is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Common 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 Common Moorhen make?
1 real field recording of the Common Moorhen — including its flight call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Common Moorhen's range?
The Common Moorhen has a mapped global range of about 38.5 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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