Dusky Moorhen
Gallinula tenebrosa· 秧鸡科(1 photos)
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Dusky Moorhen
35-40 cm. Common waterhen of town lakes and well-vegetated wetlands: yellow-tipped scarlet bill and bill shield; dark eye; legs red above 'knee', red or greenish below with long, slender toes; white under-edges of tail. Some have white streaks on flanks. Non-breeding: bill shield duller, legs greener below 'knee'. Immature: browner, with blackish green to dull orange bill and legs; white tail edges. Pairs, loose colonies: forages ashore and on surface; flicks tail, swims with head jerking; skitters. Flies apparently feebly; legs trailing. Noisy, aggressive, with frequent fights and chases.
- Other name
- Waterhen.
- Similar Species
- Eurasian Coot: bill and 'shield' white; plumage all-grey. Purple Swamphen: blue, with massive all-red bill, all-white 'stern'. Black-tailed Native-hen: green-orange bill; yellow eye; erect, wholly black tail; all-red legs.
- Voice
- rapidly repeated, resonant, 'kok's; strident 'kerk!'; repeated shrieks, taken up by other birds.
- Habitat
- well-vegetated wetlands; town lakes, parks, farm dams, irrigation storages, bore drains; rivers with sloping, grassy margins; trees or scrub on banks; introduced willows; brackish wetlands; mangroves in dry periods.
- Breeding
- Aug.-March.
- Nest
- bulky saucer of sticks, stems, bark, grass; in rushes, reeds; in or near water in vegetation, or on stump, tree bole, roots; or low branches of waterside tree. Builds resting platforms.
- Eggs
- 7-10; buff or sandy, blotched, spotted purplish brown.
- Range & Status
- e., se. and sw. Aust.; spreading in Tas.; uncommon coastal nw. and n. Q; vagrant NT. Common; sedentary, dispersive; vagrant NZ. Also Borneo, Indonesia, PNG.
- Distribution key to races
- 1. Gallinula tenebrosa tenebrosa
