al blunden
Moorhen, 220315, 07
Moorhen, In spite of its name this is not a moorland species, the name comes from the Anglo-Saxon 'more', meaning mere or bog. It eats water plants, insects, spiders worms and other invertebrates which it picks from the surface or by up-ending. Like its cousin the coot it is aggressive in defense of its territory, attacking any encroaching neighbour with feet and bill. The feet are exceedingly long, but have no wedding, so its swimming action is jerky and laboured, If alamed, the bird will dive and stay submerged with only its bill above the water,
Voice, - Loud, throaty or metallic note kurruk or kittik, high kik, stuttering kik-kikikikik-ik,
Nesting, - Shallow bowl of leaves and stems in vegetation, usually just above water, 5-11 eggs, 2-3 broods, April - August,.
Feeding - Picks seeds, fruit, shoots, snails, and insects from damp ground or shallows,
Similar Species, - Coot,.
Moorhen, 220315, 07
Moorhen, In spite of its name this is not a moorland species, the name comes from the Anglo-Saxon 'more', meaning mere or bog. It eats water plants, insects, spiders worms and other invertebrates which it picks from the surface or by up-ending. Like its cousin the coot it is aggressive in defense of its territory, attacking any encroaching neighbour with feet and bill. The feet are exceedingly long, but have no wedding, so its swimming action is jerky and laboured, If alamed, the bird will dive and stay submerged with only its bill above the water,
Voice, - Loud, throaty or metallic note kurruk or kittik, high kik, stuttering kik-kikikikik-ik,
Nesting, - Shallow bowl of leaves and stems in vegetation, usually just above water, 5-11 eggs, 2-3 broods, April - August,.
Feeding - Picks seeds, fruit, shoots, snails, and insects from damp ground or shallows,
Similar Species, - Coot,.