Field Notes: COMMON MOORHEN

Common Moorhen are a medium sized bird, about 14 inches, with a mostly dark grey body and brownish back with a white patch between. They have a distinctive orange bill that extends toward the top of their head. The tip of their bill is yellow. They can be found in marshes and wetlands.

The first time I saw a Common Moorhen was in a wetlands park in early June, 2011. It stuck reasonably close to the edges of the marsh, but did move out into more open water, as well. It did not appear overly concerned about the few people on the boardwalk watching as it moved very slowly and methodically, looking for food. I was lucky to have been around while it visited the area. Common Moorhen are not overly common, despite their name.

The second time I saw a Common Moorhen was in the same wetlands park in mid-October, 2011. This time it was a juvenile resting around some stumps in the middle of the water. Perhaps this juvenile was an offspring of the adult seen in June. The photos are not as good, but they do demonstrate the differences between an adult and juvenile Common Moorhen. The juvenile lacks the bright orange bill, but otherwise has similar coloration.