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Eurasian Moorhen
Gallinula chloropus
Audubon Illustration
John James Audubon, Birds of America (1827-1838). Public domain.
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About the Eurasian Moorhen
The common moorhen (Gallinula chloropus), also known as the waterhen, is a bird species in the rail family (Rallidae). It is distributed across many parts of the Old World, across Africa, Europe, and Asia. It lives around well-vegetated marshes, ponds, canals and other wetlands. The species is not found in the polar regions or many tropical rainforests; generally it is one of the most common Old World rail species, together with the Eurasian coot in some regions.
Source: Wikipedia
Classification
- Scientific name
- Gallinula chloropus
- Family
- Rails, Gallinules, and Coots
- Order
- Gruiformes
Similar species
Other members of the rails, gallinules, and coots family recorded in North America — a useful place to start if you are not certain of your identification.
- American Coot Fulica americana
- Aztec Rail Rallus tenuirostris
- Azure Gallinule Porphyrio flavirostris
- Baillon's Crake Zapornia pusilla
- Black Rail Laterallus jamaicensis
- Clapper Rail Rallus crepitans
- Common Gallinule Gallinula galeata
- Corn Crake Crex crex
- Eurasian Coot Fulica atra
- Giant Wood-Rail Aramides ypecaha
- Gray-breasted Crake Laterallus exilis
- Gray-headed Swamphen Porphyrio poliocephalus
Know when the Eurasian Moorhen turns up near you
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Optics
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