red-crested rail, black water
hen, red coot, water cock, pond hen
Features:
The
Moorhen is about 33cm long with black plumage, a red beak and
frontal shield, a bill that has a yellow tip, and yellowish-green
legs and feet. Their wings are dark brown, they have a white
stripe on their flanks, and the sides of their coverts under
their tail feathers are also white. Moorhen nestlings are immaculately
black with vivid red spots on their forehead and usually follow
their parents around in search of food.
Behavior:
Moorhens
have a clear, sharp voice and feed primarily on water plants,
aquatic insects, mollusks, and certain types of tender shoots.
They usually build their nests in thick grass shrubs or bushes
near riverbanks, on hydrophytes, on soil floating on the surface
of a body of water, or among water reeds. Their breeding season
begins in April and lasts until July, with females typically
laying a clutch of three to five brownish, red-speckled eggs
and producing two broods per year. Both parents take turns incubating
the eggs. An excellent swimmer and diver, Moorhens can often
be seen treading underwater by clinging to submerged aquatic
plants, floating on the water's surface, or elegantly swimming
with their tail feathers flicking upward and their two sets
of white coverts sticking out above the surface. However, Moorhens
are not very adept at flying high with their wings fully spread;
instead, they usually half-swim, half-glide on the water's surface
with their necks outstretched and their legs dangling below.
A shy and cautious bird, they will either dive below the water-poking
only their nostrils above the surface in order to breathe-or
swiftly dodge into thick bushes when disturbed.
Habitat:
Moorhens
are common residents in Taiwan that are usually seen alone or
scattered about in small groups. Their primary habitat is in
bushes adjacent to wet areas, including lakes, ponds, swamps,
marshlands, and open water areas, but excluding rivers.
