Common moorhen

Common moorhen
Adult G. c. chloropus and audio recording of call, both from France
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Gruiformes
Family: Rallidae
Genus: Gallinula
Species:
G. chloropus
Binomial name
Gallinula chloropus
Subspecies

About five; see text

Range of G. chloropus
  Breeding
  Resident
  Non-breeding
  Probably extinct
Synonyms
  • Fulica chloropus Linnaeus, 1758
  • Fulica fusca Linnaeus, 1766

The common moorhen (Gallinula chloropus), also known as the waterhen or swamp chicken, is a bird species in the rail family (Rallidae). It is distributed across many parts of the Old World, from Africa to Europe and Asia.[1]

The common moorhen lives around well-vegetated marshes, ponds, canals and other wetlands.[1] The species is not found in the polar regions or many tropical rainforests. Elsewhere it is likely the most common rail species, except for the Eurasian coot in some regions.

The closely related common gallinule of the New World has been recognized as a separate species by most authorities,[2][circular reference] starting with the American Ornithologists' Union and the International Ornithological Committee in 2011.[3]

  1. ^ a b c BirdLife International (2019). "Gallinula chloropus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2019: e.T62120190A155506651. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-3.RLTS.T62120190A155506651.en. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference Avibase was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference Chesser was invoked but never defined (see the help page).