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Moorhen Gallinula chloropus [Linnaeus, 1758]
Other Names
Trends & Distribution
Breeding & Survival
Biometrics
Books & Links
Order:
Gruiformes
Family:
Rallidae
BTO Codes:
MH , MOORH
EURING No:
4240
Number in Britain:
240 thousand territories (Summer)
Conservation Status:
UK:
GREEN
European:
Not a species of concern
Global:
Least Concern
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Status in UK:
(A) Resident Breeder, Winter Visitor
Subspecies:
chloropus recorded in Britain (of 12 subsp. in the world)
.
Length:
34 cm
Wingspan:
52 cm
Weight:
M/F: 320 g
Scientific name from:
L.: gallinula =a little hen
and Gr.: khloros =green + pous =foot
World Distribution:
Europe, Asia & Americas
Habitat:
Marsh, reedbed, small lakes
Diet:
Omnivorous, feeds whil swimming or walking on floating vegettaion or land (esp damp meadows)
TitBit:
The Moorhen is one of only two British birds which breed co-operatively, with older young birds helping their parents raise subsequent offspring
Population and Distribution
Population Trend:
Regional Trends:
Distribution:
New Atlas )
British Population Size:
Summer:
240 thousand territories
in 1988-91
Winter:
750 thousand individuals
in 1981-84
Note: Best estimate
First Record:
10th Century
[Fossil evidence from
Middle Pleistocene, c. 500,000 yr ago]
Habitat Occupancy (in the Breeding Season):
Most frequent in:
Ponds
Also common in:
Along Rivers
And found in:
Lakes
Relative Frequency in Each Habitat:
European Population Size:
Summer:
830 thousand to 1.6 million pairs
Birds in Europe
Listed on the Appendices/Schedules of:
WCA(II), WBD(II*), Bern(III)
Survey Results:
Breeding and Survival
Egg Size:
43 x 31 mm
Egg Weight:
22.3 g (of which 8 % is shell)
Number of Nest Records:
473
Clutch Size:
5 - 7 eggs
6.28 ± 1.80 (2 - 13) N = 3263
Incubation:
20 - 22 days
20.10 ± 1.57 (17 - 23) N = 3263
by the:
Male + Female
Fledging:
53 - 56 days
54.09 ± 2.73 (53 - 58) N = 2273
as:
Precocial, downy
Source:
British Trust for Ornithology (2005) Nest Record Scheme data
First Clutches Laid:
Unavailable
Number of Broods:
2
Trends in Breeding Productivity
Number Ringed:
547
Adult Survival:
0.623
Juvenile Survival:
No data
Age at First Breeding:
1
year
Typical Lifespan:
3
years
Maximum Recorded Age:
11yr3m
(Denmark: 18yr 7m)
Biometrics
Ring Size:
F*
Wing Length
Adult:
182.4 ± 8.7
Range
170 - 195 mm, N =1192
Juvenile:
179.2 ± 11.1
166 - 192 mm, N =570
Male:
187.8 ± 5.8
179 - 198 mm, N =523
Female:
174.2 ± 5.2
167 - 182 mm, N =252
Weight
Adult:
356.4 ± 68.08
Range
243.0 - 460.0 g , N =591
Juvenile:
318.3 ± 70.30
200.0 - 439.0 g , N =309
Male:
373.6 ± 64.83
243.0 - 465.0 g , N =295
Female:
319.0 ± 56.05 .
235.0 - 407.0 g , N =114
Source:
British Trust for Ornithology (2005) Ringing Scheme data
Other Names
Common Moorhen
Gaelic:
Cearc-uisge
Welsh:
Iâr Ddwr
Danish:
Grønbenet rørhøne
Dutch:
Waterhoen
Finnish:
Liejukana
French:
Poule d'eau
German:
Teichhuhn
Hungarian:
Vízityúk
Icelandic:
Sefhæna
Irish:
Cearc Uisce
Italian:
Gallinella d’acqua
Norwegian:
Sivhøne
Polish:
Kokoszka zwyczajna
Portuguese:
Galinha-d'água
Spanish:
Polla de agua
Swedish:
Rörhöna
Local Names: Waterhen
For More Information...
Books and Monographs:
Taylor, B. & van Perlo, B. 1998 Rails Pica Press, Sussex
[598.554 TAY]
See Also:
All About Birds (Cornell Lab of Ornithology)
Gough, G.A. et al. (1998) Patuxent Bird Identification Infocenter
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