A familiar bird of our wetlands, the moorhen is often seen on park lakes, ponds and rivers. It spends more of its time out of the water than its relative, the coot, and even climbs trees. Moorhens are omnivores, eating everything from snails and insects to small fish and berries. When disturbed, it usually takes cover in nearby vegetation, but if it does take to the air, its flight is short and laboured. The moorhen offers a great opportunity to watch breeding bird behaviour: in the spring, the male swims towards the female with its bill in the water and the two birds eventually nibble at each other's feathers; both birds then build the nest out of twigs in emergent vegetation and defend it with ferocity.
The moorhen can be distinguished from the similar-looking coot by its olive-black back (separated from its blue-black body by a white line), the white patches under its tail, and its red bill, which has a yellow tip.
A very familiar and widespread bird, the Moorhen can even be found in urban parks where there are streams, lakes or small ponds.
Distributed throughout England Wales, Ireland and south-east Scotland, Moorhens avoid high ground. British and Irish Moorhens are sedentary, occupying their lowland habitats year-round. In winter the population is swelled by birds migrating here from the Continent.
In addition to swimming well on water, Moorhens can often be seen foraging on grassy margins, when their white undertail is flicked as a prominent signal to others. Moorhen courtship and territoriality has been well studied owing to their abundance in and around University towns.
Omnivorous. Feed on both plants and animals. Feeds when swimming but also walks out on to floating plants, muddy ground and out into fields. Only dives rarely. Food includes insects, seeds, fruits, tadpoles and fish. Will also snatch food from other birds.
The Moorhen is the most common of our river birds. Nests near water, usually in emergent vegetation or on a floating raft. It is widespread throughout the country, only in parts of the west is it absent or rare. Can be found on any freshwater habitat with abundant emergent vegetation, including town canals, muddy ditches, and large lakes.
Winters close to its breeding areas. Birds breeding on upland areas may move down to lower areas in the winter. Irish birds are joined by migrants from colder climates.
The Moorhen is the most common of our river birds. Nests near water, usually in emergent vegetation or on a floating raft. It is widespread throughout the country, only in parts of the west is it absent or rare. Can be found on any freshwater habitat with abundant emergent vegetation, including town canals, muddy ditches, and large lakes.
Winters close to its breeding areas. Birds breeding on upland areas may move down to lower areas in the winter. Irish birds are joined by migrants from colder climates.
