Home › Aves › Rallidae › Eurasian Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus)
SPECIES PROFILE
Eurasian Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus)
Gallinula
IUCN STATUS
Least Concern
CONSERVATION STATUS
Least Concern
CLASS
Aves
GEOGRAPHICAL RANGE
Indian subcontinent Europe Africa
DIET
Omnivorous
HABITAT
Wetlands marshes lakes with vegetation
🔬 Classification
PHYLUM
Chordata
CLASS
Aves
ORDER
Gruiformes
FAMILY
Rallidae
GENUS
Gallinula
📋 Description
SIZE
32-35 cm long 200-300 g
COLORATION
Black with red frontal shield white flank stripes
ADAPTATIONS
Strong legs for swimming walks on vegetation
🌿 Ecology
HABITAT
Wetlands marshes lakes with vegetation
DIET
Omnivorous
GEOGRAPHIC RANGE
Indian subcontinent Europe Africa
REPRODUCTION
Lays 5-8 eggs in reed nests incubated 19-22 days
DIET DETAILS
Plants insects small fish
⚠️ Threats & Conservation
PRIMARY THREATS
Wetland drainage pollution
💡 Interesting Facts
1
Water Walkers: Eurasian Moorhens swim with 250-gram bodies eating 60 grams of plants daily in Bharatpur's wetlands. Their red shields are bold.
2
Colonial Nesters: These moorhens cover 4000 sq km in Odisha's marshes nesting in reeds. Habitat loss threatens their colonies.
🔭 Sighting Guide
📍 BEST PLACES TO SIGHT
Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary in Rajasthan
Chilika Lake in Odisha
Nal Sarovar Bird Sanctuary in Gujarat
🗓️ BEST TIME TO SIGHT
October-March Dry season concentrates food for spotting moorhens
🎯 SIGHTING TIPS
Watch Eurasian moorhens swimming or walking on reeds
