Common moorhen

It is a common water species that lives in lakes, marshes, rivers, canals and ponds where there is water vegetation on the banks or shrubs and brambles where it can hide and build a nest.

• Length: 30-38 cm.
• Wingspan: 50-55 cm.
• Plumage: black feathers on crown, body and head, brownish on the upper part with an irregular white stripe on the sides at the edges of the closed wings and an evident upside-down V marking under the tail. The red-orange front shield and bill with yellow tip are noticeable.  Its legs with long toes are yellow-light green.
• Weight: Approx. 250-400 g.

It feeds on water insects, small fish, crustaceans, mollusks, plant material, water grasses and grass. It feeds in the water, but it frequently leaves at the edges of the damp area to graze in the surrounding vegetation.

In Italy it builds its nest from May to July with 2-3 clutches in dense water vegetation, on banks, on small islands, with a nest made of grasses. It lays up to 8-10 eggs that it broods for 20 days. After hatching, the chicks following the parents in search of food.

It is a territorial species that actively defends its nesting space from other birds by chattering and fighting. Definitely vociferous, it emits its trumpeting and grunting and is one of the most frequent songs to be heard in the marshland. It rhythmically moves its head and tail when swimming in the water. Out of the water, it has an elegant walk with its tail that goes up and down at a regular pace. It is both sedentary and migrant in Italy, and has populations in a good state of conservation. In Milan it is commonly seen at all bodies of water having vegetation, and is a neo-colonising species very adaptable to new damp environments.