Moorhen
Moorhen
Bird
The moorhen is a familiar waterbird of ponds, lakes and rivers, easily known by its red beak and flicking white tail. It dabbles for plants and insects and picks its way nimbly across lily pads on its huge toes.
💡 Fun Facts
- The moorhen has a bright red-and-yellow beak and long green legs with enormous toes for walking on soft mud and floating plants.
- Unlike a duck, its feet are not webbed, yet it swims well — flicking its tail to show a flash of white as it goes.
- Young moorhens from an early brood often help their parents feed the next batch of chicks, like big brothers and sisters.
📅 Through the Year
- Breeding:March to August
Name Story
Gallinula chloropus
means “the little hen with greenish feet”
What does its name mean?
- Gallinula — little henLatin gallinula ‘little hen’
- chloropus — green-footedGreek chloros ‘greenish-yellow’ + pous ‘foot’
A small water bird that pecks about like a tiny hen — and if you look down at its feet, you’ll spot the greenish-yellow legs its name points to.