Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus)
Species
Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus). Taken at Standlake, Oxon., on April 18th 2017.
Taken at Standlake, Oxon., on April 18th 2017.
(1/320th sec at f14. Click image for larger version. © David Hastings)
Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus). Juvenile. Taken at Abingdon, Oxon., on June 3rd 2017.
Juvenile. Taken at Abingdon, Oxon., on June 3rd 2017.
(1/320th sec at f14. Click image for larger version. © David Hastings)

Description

L: 27 - 31 cm

Moorhens have a dark brown back and wings and a bluish-black belly, with white stripes on the flanks, and long, greenish-yellow legs.

They are found in most of the British Isles, except for north-west Scotland.

They are common on small lakes, ponds, pools and rivers with dense vegetation cover.

The Moorhen is usually a secretive bird, but in some places they are quite bold and will feed in the open.

There are around 270000 breeding pairs in Britain. It has green status on the British list.

Sightings

16-Mar-2024 : Standlake Common, Oxon (1)
02-Feb-2024 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon (2)
31-Jan-2024 : Slimbridge, Glos
04-Jan-2024 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon (4)
01-Jan-2024 : Standlake Common, Oxon (2)

08-Dec-2023 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon (2)
07-Nov-2023 : Slimbridge, Glos
22-Sep-2023 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon (1)
13-Sep-2023 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon (2)
07-Sep-2023 : Folly Park, Faringdon, Oxon (3)
02-Jun-2023 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon (1)
28-Apr-2023 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon (2+2juv)
21-Apr-2023 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon (1)
16-Apr-2023 : Standlake Common, Oxon (1)
04-Apr-2023 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon (1)
30-Jan-2023 : Otmoor, Oxon (2)
19-Jan-2023 : Slimbridge, Glos
06-Jan-2023 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon (6)
02-Jan-2023 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon (4)

20-Dec-2022 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon (3)
13-Nov-2022 : Standlake Common, Oxon (1)
04-Nov-2022 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon (1)
28-Oct-2022 : Tophill Low, E. Yorks (1)
18-Oct-2022 : Standlake Common, Oxon (1)
16-Oct-2022 : Standlake Common, Oxon (2)
08-Oct-2022 : Standlake Common, Oxon (2)
16-Sep-2022 : Radley Lakes, Oxon (4)
31-Aug-2022 : Otmoor, Oxon (3)
26-Jul-2022 : Otmoor, Oxon (1)
16-Jul-2022 : Aston, Oxon (1)
25-Jun-2022 : Leighton Moss, Lancashire (1)
24-Jun-2022 : Leighton Moss, Lancashire (1)
08-May-2022 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon (1)
30-Apr-2022 : Dry Sandford Pit, Oxon (1)
29-Apr-2022 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon (1)
25-Apr-2022 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon (1)
23-Apr-2022 : Standlake Common, Oxon (2)
21-Apr-2022 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon (1)
13-Apr-2022 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon (2)
05-Apr-2022 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon (2)
28-Mar-2022 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon (1)
26-Mar-2022 : Standlake Common, Oxon (1)
23-Mar-2022 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon (4)
24-Feb-2022 : Radley Lakes, Oxon (3)
23-Feb-2022 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon (3)
14-Feb-2022 : Appleford GPs, Oxon (1)
11-Feb-2022 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon (1)
07-Feb-2022 : Otmoor, Oxon (6)
04-Feb-2022 : University Parks, Oxford, Oxon (4)
02-Feb-2022 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon (1)