Common Moorhen – ForagingGallinula chloropus February – Texas L=14” ...... WS=21”...... WT=11 oz Order: Gruiformes (Rails, Cranes, and Allies) Family: Rallifae (Rails, Gallinules and Coots) The Common Moorhen is a rail with behavioral and appearance characteristics intermediate between the American Coot and Purple Gallinule. It is widespread in the Eastern United States and locally in the Western U.S. The mature bird has a striking appearance, especially its bright red and yellow bill, and makes a variety of loud and unusual calls. Common Moorhens forage for plant materials and micro invertebrates on the water’s surface, along the shoreline, and in submerged plants. In addition to inhabiting the continental United States there is an endemic subspecies with very similar appearance in Hawaii. In Hawaiian mythology, a moorhen brought fire to humans and in the journey the fire scorched the bird, explaining the red on the bill and forehead(†). (†) Pukui, Mary Kawena, ‘Olelo No’eau: Hawaiin Proverbs & Poetical Sayings. Honolulu: Bishop Museum Press, 1983
Common Moorhen – Juveniles watching a passerbyGallinula chloropus July – Texas L=14” ...... WS=21”...... WT=11 oz Order: Gruiformes (Rails, Cranes, and Allies) Family: Rallifae (Rails, Gallinules and Coots) Common Moorhens have large feet and very long toes allowing them to walk on floating plants and very soft soil on shorelines and in marshes. Even though their feet lack lobes or webs they swim well. They nest near emergent vegetation close to relatively open water. The young lack the bright colors of the mature bird and typically stay close to the parent and the nest while learning to forage.
Northern Pintail – DivingAnus acuta January – New Mexico L=21-25” ...... WS=35” ...... WT=1.8 lb Order: Anseriformes (Ducks, Geese and Swans) Family: Anatidae (Ducks, Geese and Swans) Northern Pintails medium sized dabbling ducks. They are early fall migrants and one of the earliest nesting ducks in the spring. As they favor shallow wetlands and flooded agricultural fields. Consequently, farming operations destroy many nests and habitats annually. Populations of Northern Pintails have been reduced by half over the last 40 years. Since the 1990’s conservation measures have led to renewed hope that populations will cease declining and may recover.
