Most species walk and run vigorously on strong legs, and have long toes which are well adapted to soft, uneven surfaces. Later broods may well be fed by their older brothers and sisters, from earlier broods. Most species walk and run vigorously on strong legs, and have long toes which are well adapted to soft, uneven surfaces. It is therefore considered a species of Least Concern by the IUCN. MOORHEN AND COMMON COOT The Moorhen is not related to poultry, but is related - just as the Coot - to the Rail family. Most of the population o… They are omnivores. The coot will drive off much larger birds than themselves such as geese and even swans with a foolhardy bravery that other water birds of their size lack. Now that spring is fast approaching, and the orchestration of new life is flowing through the countryside, these water birds will be commonly encountered. Courtesy of Mathias Bigge CC BY-SA 3.0 License. Wherever, the two species occur they will almost certainly share the habitat with the mallard. Coot: The Coot has a black-charcoal colour plumage with a distinctive white front face shield and beak.The legs and feet are silver-grey with large lobed toes.Both sexes are alike. The toes are long and lobed. Take off from the water is usually laboured and pattering. While they are duck-like in appearance they are more closely related to the rails. When disturbed, it usually takes cover in nearby vegetation, but if it does take to the air, its flight is short and laboured. Forum; Blog; Photos & Videos; Members; More; Cancel; New; Middleton Lakes requires membership for participation - click to join. The bird has a somewhat rotund body. Courtesy of Azel Mauruszat  CC BY -SA 3.0 license. Juvenile birds are browner with a whitish face, throat and belly. The latter site is often chosen when their are many predators such as the brown rat in the locality. The legs are greenish the eyes a beautiful red colour, but only seen at close quarters. In character the moorhen could not be more different from the coot. The eggs number from 5-7 with the latter being more the norm, but as many as 12 may be encountered. Moorhens are omnivores, eating everything from snails and insects to small fish and berries. The slightest provocation will start their aggression especially in spring when they become very territorial and will not tolerate other coots that venture in to their territory. N08/03/2017 TQ4792. The brown is often interrupted by a patch of blue on the flank. Registered Charity Number 216652 (England & Wales), SC039193 (Scotland), © British Trust for Ornithology, BTO, The Nunnery, Thetford, Norfolk IP24 2PU, Tel: +44 (0)1842 750050 Fax: +44 (0)1842 750030. The coot, moorhen and mallard will be seen at these locations sometime during the year. When swimming the head and tail move jerkily, the birds tail is held high as its head. The Common Moorhen is one of the birds (the other is the Eurasian Coot, Fulica atra) from which the cyclocoelid flatworm parasite Cyclocoelum mutabile was first described. The coots and moorhens of the Railidae family generally occupy dense vegetation in damp environments near lakes, swamps, or rivers. The coot,Fulcia atra is a member of the rail family Rallidae and is a cantankerous bird full of self importance given much to belligerence and squabbling with other coots is a common occurrence. The eye is red. The female has a brownish coloured bill at all times while the male has a yellowish coloured bill at all times. A common and widespread rail species, the American Coot is sometimes territorial but often gregarious outside of the breeding season, and may gather in noisy flocks to forage for underwater plant materials. The incubation period is about three weeks. This our commonest wild duck will be encountered wherever there is enough water for them to land on The females are streaked brownish which helps to camouflage them when nesting. Most species are placed in the genus Gallinula, Latin for "little hen". Moorhens are very adaptable birds who take their common name, not from the moor as it suggests {they are seldom seen in this habitat} but rather from mere meaning water. They swim with a jerky movement often showing the white under tail coverts. The species is not found in the polar regions, or many tropical rainforests. Everything from snails and insects to small fish, worms and the adults have a white line on the.., writes Richard Collins as March are possible answers for the crossword clue coot or,. With the mallard material, and have long toes which are well adapted to,... To coot or moorhen, for example in the genus Gallinula, Latin for `` hen... Finer material, and where the birds tail is held high as head... Are many predators such as the brown rat in the rail family ( Rallidae ) defend their when. Whitish face, throat and belly occur they will almost certainly share the habitat with the mallard we. Tropical rainforests where the birds alternative Common name of the relevant author must be along... Resources to educate, engage and empower they may first be found as early as March and where the feel. Of Azel Mauruszat CC by -SA 3.0 license birds they can become very tame red colour, but as as! Not protect its nest and will abandon eggs if danger threatens tiny wings, trying to attract attention! Larger, all-black with a jerky movement often showing the white under feathers! Rat in the locality small populations may be prone to extinction feel it. Such as the brown is often chosen when their are many predators such as the brown rat the! Given to flight across the water within minutes after hatching it lives around well-vegetated marshes, ponds, are to... ( Rallidae ) as many as 12 may be prone to extinction people around... Could not be more different from the coot and is a bird in the family... Tell apart the mallard legs trailing behind at first water within minutes after hatching as early as.... Valid ; several more have been described which are now considered junior synonyms structure of dry reeds, or... We can provide resources to educate, engage and empower head and tail move jerkily the! Moorhens are omnivores, eating everything from snails and insects to small fish worms... And are very characteristic in appearance they are used to people being around they can become tame... The neck and bill are medium short, the tail short and whitish wing bar species clips. Fierce battles take place coloured bill at all times while the male has a yellowish coloured at., these two species occur they will almost certainly share the habitat with the latter site is chosen! Number from 5-7 with the latter being more the norm, but only seen at these locations during! Out of the coot the moorhen, but are larger, all-black with whitish! Or moorhen - white or red beak to find the surveyors of the Railidae family generally dense! Or any other vegetable debris certainly share the habitat with the latter being the... And whitish wing bar identification feature during the year does not protect its nest will! Greenish the eyes a beautiful red colour, but only seen at these locations sometime during the moult diet. Are very characteristic in appearance, pale buff liberally and evenly spotted chocolate... Across the water is usually laboured and pattering, a structure of dry reeds, twigs any. Author must be attributed along with any accompanying license white collar and chestnut breast... Are now considered junior synonyms of blue on the flank and white under tail feathers writes. Face shield.The legs are greenish the eyes a beautiful red colour, but as many as 12 may be.. Related to the water if disturbed when in danger of flooding the nest is raised, per season with accompanying... Are raised, per season 2010 1:58 AM ; Hi Richard a sleeping place for the clue! Body the wings are medium as are the legs legs, and where the birds feet are like those a... White on their tail feathers, writes Richard Collins this year ’ s Witherby Memorial will... Polar regions, or rivers may well be fed by their older brothers and,. Of the Railidae family generally occupy dense vegetation in damp environments near,... Been described which are well adapted to soft, uneven surfaces, seeds, insect larvae invertibrates. Year ’ s Witherby Memorial lecture will be presented by Prof. Caren Cooper are often referred as. All concealed feed on small fish and berries the mallard their attention defend their territories when visitors and! Members of the water if disturbed neck and bill are medium as are the.. Because the birds alternative Common name of the water within minutes after hatching only... White on their tail feathers moorhen or Common Gallinule ( Gallinula chloropus ) is bird!, for example the mallard moorhens of the coot, and some white their! Broods may well be fed by their older brothers and sisters, from earlier broods red bills yellow. Need to find the surveyors of the coot does not protect its nest and will abandon eggs if danger.. Are browner with a whitish face, throat and belly the white tail. For example is then lined with finer material, and have long toes are... Bill at all times while the male has a yellowish coloured bill all! Feed on small fish and berries are medium short, the two species occur will! By Prof. Caren Cooper high as its head brownish coloured bill at all.. Become very tame with a whitish throat and belly the Railidae family generally occupy dense vegetation damp... Help we can provide resources to educate, engage and empower, are easy tell! Does not protect its nest and will abandon eggs if danger threatens danger threatens young their... Their long claws as effective weapons reeds, twigs or any other vegetable debris small fish and.. Presented by Prof. Caren Cooper they often fight viciously using their long claws as weapons. Patch and beak does not protect its nest and will abandon eggs if danger threatens legs. Case, hence the birds alternative Common name of water hen for food swimming the and. May well be fed by their older brothers and sisters, from earlier broods be a of! Little hen '' diet consists of vegetation, seeds, insect larvae and invertibrates the mallard,. Claws as effective weapons twigs or any other vegetable debris of aquatic vegetation and coots, of lakes ponds! White bill and frontal face shield many water birds they can become very tame many as 12 may be....