Common Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus)

County List:

Rule:

Mixed Forested/Nonforested or Nonforested Landscapes

      (Lake or Pond or River)
   adjacent to:
      Any Emergent Wetland

Habitat List:

view size class definitions

Literature:

Habitat: Common Moorhens are principally deep-water marsh birds, preferring tall, dense vegetation. Beds of cattail appear to be favored breeding habitat. These birds feed primarily on insects and other invertebrates, but vegetable matter may constitute a significant part of their diet.

Nests are generally built on the surface of the water and are constructed of dead aquatic vegetation anchored to surrounding plants.

Habitat: Breeding: Freshwater marshes, ponds, lakes, canals, reservoirs, nearly any body of water with emergent vegetation growing in water 1 foot deep or deeper.

Special Habitat Requirements: Emergent vegetation growing in water 1-3 feet deep. Requires some open water.

Habitat: Fresh marshes, reedy ponds. May be on still or slow-moving waters. Favors fresh marshes with some open water, ideally with some open ground and some dense cover along margins. Sometimes on more open ponds with only small amount of marsh cover. Found with American Coot in many places, but requires more marsh growth.

Diet: Omnivorous. Major food items include leaves, stems and seeds of various water plants, also fruits and berries of terrestrial plants. Also eats insects, spiders, earthworms, snails and other mollusks, tadpoles. Sometimes eats carrion, eggs of other birds.

Nest: Site is in marsh over shallow water, sometimes on ground or in shrub near water. Nest is solidly constructed platform (or wide, shallow cup) of cattails, bulrushes, reeds; often has a ramp of similar material leading down to water. Similar platforms built nearby may be used for resting or brooding.