Moorhen

Common Moorhen ( Gallinula chloropus)

The moorhen ( Gallinula ) are a genus of the family of Rails. They are widespread, with nine species worldwide.

Features

Moorhen usually have a dark, plain plumage, with the exception of the Solomon Islands Woodhen. All moorhen have a bright colored beak and a frontal shield on the forehead. Some species have a conspicuous white line on the dark edges. All essential living on the water species and the Tristan Moorhen have white under tail-coverts.

Habitat

Moorhen occur in very different habitats, from wetlands with open freshwater and from growing vegetation in which there are the typical representatives of the moorhen, over grassland with bushes, in which the Tristan Moorhen lives, to dense forests, the habitats of Solomon Woodhen and Samoa cesspool chicken.

Species

• Samoa cesspool chicken ( G. pacifica ), now extinct
• Solomon Islands Woodhen, Blue-fronted - puddle chicken ( G. silvestris )
• Tristan Moorhen (G. nesiotis )
• Common Moorhen (G. chlorine- Op )
• Papua Moorhen (G. tenebrosa )
• Dwarf grouse (G. angulata )
• Mask cesspool chicken ( G. melanops )
• Red footed cesspool chicken ( G. ventralis )
• Tasmanian cesspool chicken ( G mortierii )
• Gough Moorhen (G. comeri )
• Gallinula hodgenorum ( fossil)