Gough Moorhen

Gough Moorhen on Tristan da Cunha

The Gough Moorhen ( Gallinula comeri ) lives on the island of Gough in the South Atlantic. By George Comer it was first collected and described by Joel Asaph Allen as a separate species.

Description

The Gough Moorhen looks similar to the European Common Moorhen. The birds reach a length of 27 centimeters, their stature is rather stocky. The color is generally black, neck and back are dark brown, the underside of the short tail is white. Frontal shield and beak are red, the tip of the beak yellow. The legs are orange with yellow- green and red spots.

Behavior

The ability to fly these birds have lost. Como reported that they used the wings in the race and could not get to a one-meter high table.

The birds are omnivores. They feed on plant parts, seeds, insects and carrion.

The breeding season extends from September to March, there are two to five eggs are laid.

Dissemination

The Gough Moorhen was originally only available at the Gough Island. 1956 some specimens were exposed to Tristan da Cunha, where also developed a stable population in the sequence. The birds inhabit scrubland and rare grasslands, they are lacking in the heathland.

Systematics and zoological history

The Gough Moorhen was collected for the first time in 1888 by George Comer, he brought six birds on board, of which four, however, soon died. Joel Asaph Allen described it in 1892 as Porphyriornis comeri. It has often been regarded as identical with the extinct Tristan Moorhen ( Gallinula nesiotis ), but DNA studies confirmed its status as own way