Moorhen

Unnoticed biodiversity

Identification

Common name: Moorhen
Latin name: Gallinulla chloropus
Length: 33 cm
Distinguishing features: slate-grey plumage, frontal shield and red beak with yellow tip, white stripes along the flanks
Habitat: aquatic
Diet: omnivorous
Status: Least Concern in the Ile-de-France region
Nesting period: April to July

Seen in the garden

In the Tuileries Garden, moorhens build their nests on the ground in the flower beds. During their maintenance operations, the gardeners are careful to protect the nests to ensure population renewal.

Moorhens brooding their eggs are most likely to be sighted tucked away around the ornamental ponds in the exedra groves.

Galinule poule d'eau - Deux début de chants puis divers cris territoriaux

Audio

1 min.

Did you know?

This species had almost vanished altogether from Paris by the 19th century. It has been gradually re-established since the 1970s.
Moorhens are not actually hens, but belong to the same family as Coots.

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