Specie's Page                                               Water Fowl - Eurasian Coots

The Moorhen - UK Status: Resident.

Habitat: This small water bird can be found on many types of wetland habitats, including small stagnant ponds. In fact most pools in lowland areas. up to and including largish lakes.

Breeding: Moorhens belong to the rail (rallidae) and are closely related to Coots and Water Rails. They seldom travel far from their chosen residence in the British Isles. They lay many eggs in a clutch, up to a dozen, and there may be two or more clutches each season.

Newly hatched chicks are dark grey on the body, with brown hairs on the neck, and reddish heads and beaks. As they grow they change colour, and become lighter shades of grey, with distinct whitish throats.

Coots often get bullied out of the way, by larger ducks when their is food in the offing. They however will grab a piece of  the food on offer, and make quick retreat back to the reed beds. Once out of the breeding season, both Coots and Moorhens appear to become bolder and have a go back at the larger ducks. Today I saw a Moorhen respond to a bullying Mallard, and the Moorhen stood it ground, and the Mallard backed down, they tend to be bolder and less defensive  when the breeding season is over.

Comment: Moorhens, or Marsh Hens as they are some times known as and are common and wide spread in most of England, Wales and southern Scotland. In northern Scotland it is scarce.