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)
Location: Recent sightings confined to Kranji Marsh, Lorong Halus and West Coast Marsh.
- Bird List Revision for March 2019 (Revisions)
- Local extinctions of Singapore birds (Science)
- Checklist Revision for June 2023 (Revisions)
Featured reports: Mar 2022, Apr 2022, May 2022, Oct 2022, Nov 2022, Dec 2022, Jan 2023, Feb 2023, Mar 2023, Apr 2023, May 2023
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 1 January 2023
Robson, C. (2014). Field guide to the birds of South-East Asia (Second Edition). Bloomsbury Publishing, London.
RECOMMENDED CITATION
Bird Society of Singapore. (n.d.). Common Moorhen. Retrieved on June 12, 2025 from https://singaporebirds.com/species/common-moorhen.