Dusky Moorhen (adult and juvenile)

Description:

The Dusky Moorhen is a medium-sized water bird with dark grey-black plumage, a white undertail, and a red bill with a yellow tip and red facial shield. The bird on pictures 4 and 5 is a juvenile. With its lighter weight it is able to walk on the pond's vegetation.

Habitat:

Swimming freely in a pond at the Brisbane City Botanic Gardens.

Notes:

Two other water hen species found in Australia and similar to the Dusky Moorhen but can be distinguished as follow: the similarly-sized Eurasian Coot, Fulica atra, has a white bill and face shield and a red eye, while the Purple Swamphen, Porphyrio porphyrio, is larger and has a purple-blue plumage.