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Gallinula galeata
These rails are mostly brown and black with some white markings in plumage color. Unlike many of the rails they are usually easy to see, feeding in open water margins rather than hidden in reedbeds. They have short rounded wings and are weak fliers, although usually capable of covering long distances. The Common Moorhen in particular migrates up to 2,000 km from some of its breeding areas in the colder parts of Siberia. Those that migrate do so at night. The Gough Moorhen on the other hand is considered almost flightless—it can only flutter some meters. As common in rails, there has been a marked tendency to evolve flightlessness in island populations. Moorhens can walk very well on strong legs, and have long toes that are well adapted to soft uneven surfaces.
Thanks for the assistance. I'd always known these as gallinules, although I had never seen one in the wild before.
Spotted on Mar 21, 2012
Submitted on Mar 27, 2012
