Moorhen
Scientific Name: Gallinula chloropusMaltese Name: Gallozz Iswed
Family: Rails (Rallidae)
Occurence: Regular Migrant, Localised Breeder
Breeds in Malta: Yes
Breeding Frequency: Scarce
Overview:
The Moorhen is a distinctive species, with dark plumage apart from the white undertail, yellow legs and red facial shield. Its bill is red with a yellow tip. The young are browner and lack the red shield. The chicks are black with a red bill. The Moorhen is a water bird, and therefore can only be found where fresh water is present. It is a very common bird throughout europe, breeding in every pond and ditch, but due to lack of habitat it is rare in Malta. This species will consume a wide variety of vegetable material and small aquatic creatures. They forage beside or in the water, sometimes upending in the water to feed. It also does like grazing in fields close to their breeding grounds. It is often secretive, but can become tame in some areas. The Moorhen is a noisy bird, having a wide repertoire of loud gargling calls.
Status and Distribution:
The Moorhen is a rare breeding bird mainly because few areas with suitable habitat available and a lot of human disturbance. Apart from Simar and Ghadira Nature Reserves, it breeds only in very few other places consisting mainly of valleys with fresh water present all year round.
When to See:
Breeding birds are present all year round, a few birds winter in valleys or fresh water pools.
Where to See:
Simar and Ghadira Nature Reserves and Valleys with abundant fresh water.
Photographs:
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Moorhen, Ghadira Nature Reserve |
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| Adult Moorhen, Simar Nature Reserve | Moorhen's Nest with eggs, Simar Nature Reserve |
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| Adult Moorhen with its Chick, Simar Nature Reserve | Juvenile Moorhen, Simar Nature Reserve |
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Moorhen, Simar Nature Reserve |
Listen to Moorhen:
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