Eurasian Moorhen

Eurasian moorhens are dark, medium-sized waterbirds distinguished by white wing and rump markings, yellow-green legs, and a yellow-tipped bill with a bright red frontal shield. They occupy marshes, swamps, and other vegetated wetlands and can also live in urban, suburban, agricultural, and riparian settings. Their recorded elevational range extends from sea level to 4,575 metres. Adults weigh approximately 192–493 grams and spend considerable time swimming among plants or walking across floating and shoreline vegetation (Animal Diversity Web).

Moorhens are opportunistic omnivores that take whatever foods are locally abundant. They sift food from the water, graze vegetation, and glean insects on land, consuming leaves, flowers, fruit, seeds, grain, algae, fish, amphibians, eggs, carrion, and invertebrates. Breeding may occur throughout the year in tropical areas but is concentrated in warmer seasons elsewhere. Females compete for access to males, and a dominant female may chase her prospective mate during courtship. A typical clutch contains five to nine eggs (Animal Diversity Web).