Common Moorhen

This species is defined as a rarity. Please submit your records of this species via our record submission page.

Scientific Name: Gallinula chloropus
Malay Name: Tiung-Air Biasa
Chinese Name: 黑水鸡

Range:
A widespread species found globally except in Antarctica and Australasia.

Taxonomy:
Polytypic. Subspecies are: chloropus, meridionalis, pyrrhorrhoa, orientalis, guami.

Local Subspecies: orientalis

Size: 30-35 cm

Identification:
Adult has overall dark plumage with contrasting white line along flanks and lateral undertail-coverts, yellow-tip red bill, distinctive red frontal shield and greenish-yellow legs/feet. Male is larger than female. Juvenile has duller overall plumage than adult and lacks any red on bill and frontal shield.

Similar looking species: Grey-headed Swamphen, Eurasian Coot

Habitat: Freshwater wetlands.

Behaviour/Ecology: Usually observed feeding while swimming.

Local Status: Uncommon resident

Conservation Status: Least Concern (BirdLife International 2019)

Featured articles:

Featured reports: Mar 2022, Apr 2022, May 2022

Past accepted records in our database: (not a complete listing)

Common Moorhen at Lorong Halus. Photo Credit: Francis Yap
Common Moorhen at Lorong Halus. Photo Credit: Francis Yap
Common Moorhen at Kranji Marsh. Photo Credit: See Toh Yew Wai
Subadult Common Moorhen (from the yellowish-orange ‘front shield’) at Kranji Marsh. Photo Credits: See Toh Yew Wai
External Links:
Conservation Status: IUCN Red List Page
Sound Recordings: xeno-canto Link
Wikipedia Entry: Wikipedia Link
eBird Species page: eBird (Eurasian Moorhen)
References:
BirdLife International. (2019). Gallinula chloropus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2019. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-3.RLTS.T62120190A155506651.en. Accessed on 19 December 2021
Robson, C. (2014). Field guide to the birds of South-East Asia (Second Edition). Bloomsbury Publishing, London.