Dusky Moorhen

The dusky moorhen is a medium size bird, slightly smaller than the purple swamphen. The New Guinea birds are smaller, at 25–32 centimeters (9.8–12.6 in) in length, than the Australian race 34–38 centimeters (13–15 in). Adult males generally weigh on average around 570 grams and adult females 493 grams. The adult dusky moorhen is mainly dark grey black, with a browner tinge to the upper parts. It has a red frontal shield and yellow-tipped red bill like its Eurasian relative but lacks the white flank line shown by common moorhen and has orange yellow rather than yellow legs. The Australian subspecies is larger and pager than both other subspecies.

General Information:

Common Name: Dusky moorhen
Scientific Name:Gallinula tenebrosa
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order:Gruiformes
Family:Rallidae

Description

The dusky moorhen is a medium size bird, slightly smaller than the purple swamphen. The New Guinea birds are smaller, at 25–32 centimeters (9.8–12.6 in) in length, than the Australian race 34–38 centimeters (13–15 in). Adult males generally weigh on average around 570 grams and adult females 493 grams. The adult dusky moorhen is mainly dark grey black, with a browner tinge to the upper parts. It has a red frontal shield and yellow-tipped red bill like its Eurasian relative but lacks the white flank line shown by common moorhen and has orange yellow rather than yellow legs. The Australian subspecies is larger and pager than both other subspecies.

Distribution

It occurs in India, Australia, New Guinea, Borneo and Indonesia. Some vagrant, non-breeding birds may be found in New Zealand as well. In Australia, they are found across the eastern states of Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland as far north as Cooktown, as well as the eastern part South Australia and the south-western tip of Western Australia. It is also found in parts of Tasmania and South Australia but are uncommon.

Habitat

The dusky moorhen is found in wetland habitats, with a preference for freshwater marshes and swamps, and is rarely found far from these areas except when foraging in nearby vegetation. They are also found in urban parks such as Gold Coast Regional Botanic Gardens and often in dams and riverbanks. They require open water, usually with some cover such as grass, reeds, and other vegetation.

Mating Habits

Breeding season is from August to January in the south of Australia, with generally one brood, and January to June in the north, often brooding twice. This species builds a bulky nest of reeds or grasses at the water's edge or a few centimeters above the water, often at the base of a Melaleuca and lays a clutch of 5–11 matte whitish eggs that are covered with red-brown dots and splotches. Tapered oval, they measure 53 mm long by 36 mm wide each and have more prominent markings at the larger end. It is territorial when breeding, but otherwise gregarious. The dusky moorhen may nest alongside the purple swamphen. The average incubation period is 21 days, fledging duration 40 to 50 days, sexual maturity 3 to 6 year, life span 10 years.

Diet

IUCN Status

Least Concern