Species guide
Dusky Moorhen: how to recognise it
A bird of Asia and Oceania. Learn the marks that make it easy to identify, then practise with real photographs in Lore.
Practise with real photosAll species guides
Photo © Michael Long · CC BY-NC · iNaturalist · all photo credits
- Scientific name
- Gallinula tenebrosa
- Family
- Rails, Gallinules, and Coots
- Size
- About 38–40 cm
- Habitat
- Lakes, ponds and swamps
- Found in
- Asia and Oceania
The key marks
A dark, chicken-like waterbird with a red-and-yellow bill, a red shield on the forehead and white patches under the tail.
Voice
A loud, sharp “krruk”.
Good to know
It is a common water bird in Australia and walks on lily pads with its long toes.
Where and when
You can expect to find it in lakes, ponds and swamps. It is especially common in Australia. Distribution changes with the seasons and from year to year, so check a recent local observation source before you go looking.