{"id":23765,"date":"2023-02-03T16:24:37","date_gmt":"2023-02-03T15:24:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.countryfile.com\/?p=138335"},"modified":"2023-02-03T16:36:08","modified_gmt":"2023-02-03T15:36:08","slug":"moorhen-identification-diet-habitat-and-distribution","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbccountryfile\/rss_feed\/moorhen-identification-diet-habitat-and-distribution\/","title":{"rendered":"Moorhen: identification, diet, habitat and distribution"},"content":{"rendered":"

What is a moorhen? What’s the difference between a moorhen and a coot? What does a moorhen sound like and where do they live? In this BBC Countryfile Magazine guide we take a closer look at these attractive waterbirds. <\/p>

By Dominic Couzens\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Friday, 03 February 2023 at 12:00 am<\/p>

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The moorhen (Gallinula chloropus<\/em>)\u00a0is most often seen swimming \u2013 but oddly for a waterbird, hardly to Olympic standard.\u00a0In truth, this is an amphibious all-rounder.<\/p>\n

It is often at the surface of the water, its long-toed, unwebbed feet giving it a laboured swimming style, its head bobbing with the effort.<\/p>\n

Yet it also runs over mud and vegetation very easily and is perfectly capable of clambering around branches of trees, where it may roost at night.<\/p>\n

Interested in learning more about British wildlife? Check out our guides to frogs and toads<\/a>, wading birds<\/a> and reptiles<\/a>.<\/p>\n

What do moorhens look like?<\/h2>\n

The moorhen has a dark body \u2013\u00a0similar to that of a coot \u2013 but the colour of the bill instantly separates the species. The moorhen\u2019s bill is orange with a yellow tip (but dull in juvenile birds), and it looks a little cheap and kitschy.<\/p>\n

If you look closely, you\u2019ll also spot a broken white line along the middle of the body, and brilliant white under the tail. The legs are pale green, but with saucy red garters. The bird is\u00a030\u201338cm in size.<\/p>\n

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The moorhen has long,\u00a0pale green\u2013yellow legs\/Credit: Getty<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

Moorhen call<\/h2>\n

Listen out for the explosive \u201ccurruck\u201d call, which gives the impression the moorhen has just been unexpectedly tickled.<\/p>\n

Moorhen or coot?<\/h4>\n

The dark body of a moorhen is similar to that of a coot, but the colour of the bill instantly separates the species. The coot has a white bill and shield, whereas the moorhen\u2019s is orange with a yellow tip.\u00a0In contrast to coots, moorhens don\u2019t normally dive.<\/p>\n

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\""Moorhen\"<\/div><\/div> <\/div> <\/section>

Moorhen habitat<\/h2>\n

The name moorhen is puzzling at first, until you realise that it derives from \u201cMere-hen\u201d, a mere being a shallow pond or wetland. In such places, moorhens abound, often living quite secretive lives among thick vegetation.<\/p>\n

Moorhen diet<\/h2>\n

The moorhen feeds on a variety of items from berries and seeds to fish, crustaceans and spiders<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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The moorhen\u2019s bill is orange with a yellow tip\/Credit: Getty<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

Moorhen breeding, eggs and chicks<\/h2>\n

The moorhen\u2019s lifestyle is full of surprises. Pairing up is decidedly fluid, and quite often includes polygamy and incest.<\/p>\n

Moorhens also have the extraordinary, cuckoo-like habit of laying eggs in the nests of other birds, sometimes those of their own species, but also coots.<\/p>\n

The nests and chicks are similar to those of coots. When moorhens are young, they sometimes help their parents with the care of the next brood of chicks.<\/p>\n

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When moorhens are young, they sometimes help their parents with the care of the next brood of chicks\/Credit: Getty<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

Moorhen distribution<\/h2>\n

There are 240,000 breeding pairs or moorhen in the UK (320,000 in winter). They are common and widespread.<\/p>\n

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