Gallinula chloropus | DeWetsWild

Over the past several weeks we’ve been fortunate to watch the resident pair of Common Moorhen raise their chick at the little pond in the centre of our local Moreletakloof Nature Reserve.

We first noticed the parent pair with more regularity in late August, with the onset of warmer spring weather. Soon after, we had our first glimpse of the chick and since have returned to visit as regularly as we could – the dam always featuring on our hike at some point and usually we’re lucky to get at least a glimpse of the chick. The rate at which it has has grown is absolutely astounding and it will soon be independent of its parents.

Common Moorhen parent

Common Moorhen chick on 4 September 2020

Common Moorhen chick on 10 September 2020 being fed by one of its parents

Common Moorhen chick on 10 September 2020

Common Moorhen chick on 10 September 2020 being fed by one of its parents

Common Moorhen chick on 24 September 2020

Common Moorhen chick on 24 September 2020 being fed by one of its parents

Common Moorhen chick on 24 September 2020

Common Moorhen chick on 15 October 2020

Gallinula chloropus meridionalis

Commonly seen singly, in pairs or small family groups, the Common Moorhen inhabits almost any freshwater habitat but prefers water bodies with thickly vegetated borders. They are omnivorous feeders, eating a wide range of algae, moss, other aquatic plants, green shoots, seeds, flowers, berries and fruits, worms, insects, crustaceans, molluscs, small fish and tadpoles and occasionally bird eggs. They have a wingspan up to 62cm and weigh around 250g.

In South Africa the Common Moorhen breeds throughout the year, with pairs isolating themselves from others of their species except for a few helpers from previous broods. The nest is a cup built of plant material, either floating on a platform on the water or raised above it in emergent vegetation, built by the female with material provided by the male. Clutches contain from 4 to 9 eggs, incubated for three weeks by both sexes. Chicks fledge when they’re about 2 months old.

With a stable population estimated at over 8-million birds, distributed widely over Asia, Europe and Africa, the Common Moorhen is listed as being of least concern by the IUCN. In South Africa it is mostly found in the wetter southern, central and eastern parts of the country, being absent from large areas of the arid western parts.