Common Moorhen

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.

Featured reports: Mar 2022, Apr 2022, May 2022, Oct 2022, Nov 2022, Dec 2022, Jan 2023, Feb 2023, Mar 2023, Apr 2023, May 2023

Past records in our database:

Showing only accepted records. Note that records currently under review are also not displayed, and the list may not be a full list of records of this species in Singapore. For more details, check the database here.

Subadult Common Moorhen (from the yellowish-orange ‘front shield’) at Kranji Marsh. Photo Credits: See Toh Yew Wai
Common Moorhen at Kranji Marsh. Photo Credit: See Toh Yew Wai
Common Moorhen at Lorong Halus. Photo Credit: Francis Yap
Common Moorhen at Lorong Halus. Photo Credit: Francis Yap
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 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 May 2, 2024 from https://singaporebirds.com/species/common-moorhen.

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