Moorhen.

The Moorhens are members of the family of Rails, which are small to medium sized birds that are mostly associated with aquatic birds, although even terrestrial birds are also seen in the family. They belong to the family known as Rallidae, and these birds are found all over the world, except in the regions of Australasia, the Polar Regions tropical forests and the deserts. The Moorhens are commonly called as Waterhens because they are aquatic birds. The Moorhens can be seen mostly in the wetlands and they prefer the wetlands than the moor lands. In the United States, these birds are also known by another name common gallinule. The Moorhen is a very common aquatic bird and since it is found all over the world, it is known by various names and also there are several sub species of the bird and hence the names can be misleading.

The Moorhen is a distinctive species and it can be easily identified. The bird is having dark plumage and the lower tail is white in colour. It has legs that are yellow in colour and a face that is having a red coloured facial shield. The young birds do not have the facial shield and they are much browner in colour. The call of the bird is of many types. It emits various calls, some of them sound like gargling noises. When the bird is in danger, they make loud hissing noises to scare away predators.

These birds can breed well in marshy environments and lakes that are well vegetated. These birds are not migratory in nature. However, the populations of these birds that are seen in the areas where the water freezes may migrate to temperate regions.

The Moorhens can consume a wide variety of both plant and animal matter. They eat vegetable matter as well as a number of small aquatic animals. It is observed that these birds will search or scavenge in the waters to feed. It is seen that the birds sometimes cartwheels in the water in an attempt to feed and may also be seen walking in marshes, in search of food. The Moorhen is said to be a very guarded and a cautious bird, but in some regions it has also been tamed. It is seen that though some of the natural habitats of the Moorhen has been destroyed, it has managed to remain widespread.

The Moorhen builds its nest on the ground among dense undergrowth or vegetation. The nest is built in the shape of a roofed basket. The female Moorhens start laying the eggs during the spring season, mostly between the months of March and May in the temperate regions of the northern hemisphere. It is seen that the birds will lay about 8 to 12 eggs in the early spring season, and may also lay about 5 to 8 eggs in the second brood, during the late summer season. Sometimes it has been seen that more than one female Moorhen will share the same nest. The incubation of the eggs as well as the feeding of the young birds is done by both the parents.