The Common Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus), also known as Marsh Hen, is a medium-sized bird. It is migratory in some parts of the U.S., Canada, South America, Europe, Asia, and Africa, but they love Florida and Mexico and stay year-round. The Moorhen, a part of the rail family, spends its life on the water and is usually 12 to 15 inches in size when fully grown. Despite having no webbing on their feet, they are good swimmers. Of course, you can not miss them with their gray-black feathers, a line of white feathers, and a red bill with a yellow tip.
Moorhens are omnivores and love to eat seeds and other plant material floating on the water. They also eat algae, small fish, tadpoles, insects, aquatic roots, berries, grass, snails, insects, rodents, lizards, and worms. On land, you will see them ‘peck’ like a chicken for their food.
Moorhen pairs are monogamous. Females will lay 4 to 12 eggs, laying only one egg a day. The chicks will fledge within 5 to 7 weeks, and Momma Moorhen might have another brood later in the season.
Predators such as foxes, dogs, coyotes, and raccoons are the main predators of the moorhen. Large reptiles and Wildcats may also prey on them.
Here you see a moorhen family on the water’s edge.
