Common Moorhen

Afrikaans name: Grootwaterhoender

Photo © Steven Herbert

Gallinula chloropus

The Common Moorhen is a familiar site on dams, ponds and other quiet and well-vegetated bodies of water.

The Moorhen has an almost world-wide distribution although there is some debates about the status of the species and sub-species found in different areas.

In some countries the Moorhen is called a Swamp Chicken.

The Common Moorhen can weigh up to 500 g with a length of 30 cm or more.

They nest on the ground amongst vegetation and up to 8 eggs may be laid.

Photo © Steven Herbert

Juvenile Common Moorhen's are very drably coloured (above) while adults (below) have a smart black and white plumage with a red and yellow bill.

Photo © Steven Herbert

Roberts Birds Names by Edition

Edition	Roberts nr	Scientific name
1st	210	Gallinula chloropus meridionalis
2nd	210	Gallinula chloropus
3rd	210	Gallinula chloropus
4th	210	Gallinula chloropus
5th	226	Gallinula chloropus
6th	226	Gallinula chloropus
7th	224	Gallinula chloropus

Edition	Roberts nr	English name
1st	210	Africa Waterhen
2nd	210	Moorhen
3rd	210	Moorhen
4th	210	Moorhen
5th	226	Common Moorhen
6th	226	Common Moorhen
7th	224	Common Moorhen

Edition	Roberts nr	Afrikaans name
1st	210	Waterhoender
2nd	210	Waterhoender
3rd	210	Waterhoender
4th	210	Waterhoender
5th	226	Waterhoender
6th	226	Waterhoender
7th	224	Grootwaterhoender

References and further reading

World Birds - Author: Brian P. Martin - Published: 1987 - Page: 151

Wildlife of the Cape Peninsula - Author: Duncan Butchart - Published: 2001 - Page: 41

Wild About Johannesburg - Author: Duncan Butchart - Published: 1995 - Page: 35

Wildlife of Southern Africa - Author: Martin Withers and David Hosking - Published: 2011 - Page: 76

Southern African Bird Names Explained - Author: Charles Clinning - Published: 1989 - Page: 64

Southern African Wildlife - Author: Readers Digest - Published: 1989 - Page: 136

The Birds of South Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Dr. Austin Roberts - Published: 1949 - Page: 87

Roberts Birds of Southern Africa - 6th Edition - Author: Gordon Lindsay Maclean - Published: 1993 - Page: 198

Sasol Birds of Southern Africa - 4th Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair et al. - Published: 2011 - Page: 144

Sasol Birds of Southern Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair et al. - Published: 1993 - Page: 142

Roberts Birds of Southern Africa - 5th Edition - Author: Gordon Lindsay Maclean - Published: 1985 - Page: 201

Roberts Birds of South Africa - 4th Edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Published: 1981 - Page: 148

Roberts Birds of South Africa - 2nd edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Published: 1957 - Page: 110

Roberts Birds of South Africa - 3rd Edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Published: 1975 - Page: 140

Newmans Birds of Southern Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Ken Newman - Published: 1984 - Page: 98

Roberts Bird Guide - Author: Hugh Chittenden - Published: 2007 - Page: 100

Newmans Birds of Southern Africa - 7th Edition - Author: Ken Newman - Published: 2000 - Page: 98

Illustrated Guide to the Game Parks and Nature Reserves of SA - 2nd edn - Author: Readers Digest - Published: 1991 - Page: 409

Ian Sinclairs Field Guide to the Birds of Southern Africa - 2nd Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair - Published: 1988 - Page: 104

Field Guide to the Cradle of Humankind - Author: B. Hilton-Barber & Prof. L. R. Berger - Published: 2004 - Page: 179

Freshwater Life - Author: C. Griffiths, J. Day & M. Picker - Published: 2015 - Page: 58

Everyones Guide to South African Birds - Author: John Sinclair and John Mendelsohn - Published: 1987 - Page: 48

Field Guide to the Birds of Kruger National Park - Author: Ian Sinclair and Ian Whyte - Published: 1991 - Page: 80

Birds of the Transvaal - Author: Tarboton, Kemp and Kemp - Published: 1987 - Page: 81

Collins Illustrated Checklist - Birds of Southern Africa - 1st edition - Author: Ber van Perlo - Published: 1999 - Page: 24

Common Birds of the North Coast - Author: Bing Comrie - Published: 2005 - Page: 24

Birds of the South Western Cape - Author: Joy Frandsen - Published: 0 - Page: 71

Birds of the Transkei - Author: C.D. Quickelberge - Published: 1989 - Page: 52

Birds of Southern Africa - Kruger National Park - Author: Kenneth Newman - Published: 1985 - Page: 36

Bird Atlas of Natal - Author: Digby Cyrus and Nigel Robson - Published: 1980 - Page: 99

A First Guide to South African Birds - 7th Edition - Author: Leonard Gill - Published: 1975 - Page: 164

A First Guide to South African Birds - 6th Edition - Author: Leonard Gill - Published: 1959 - Page: 164

A Field Guide to the Birds of Southern Africa - 2nd Edition - Author: O.P.M. Prozesky - Published: 1983 - Page: 95

BirdLife South Africa

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List of South African Birds