Common Moorhen
Common MoorhenCommon MoorhenCommon MoorhenCommon Moorhen

Common Moorhen

Gallinula chloropus

Silhouette: Andy Wilson · PhyloPic

LCLeast ConcernNTVUENCR
Daily sighting probability ~70% · Very likely
at Amsterdam

In 3 days >90%

2,337 Verified sightings at Amsterdam
30,866 In all 108 parks From 2019 to 2026
November Best month
☀️ Diurnal When it's spotted

About the Common Moorhen

The common moorhen (Gallinula chloropus), also known as the waterhen, is a bird species in the rail family (Rallidae). It is distributed across many parts of the Old World, across Africa, Europe, and Asia. It lives around well-vegetated marshes, ponds, canals and other wetlands. The species is not found in the polar regions or many tropical rainforests; generally it is one of the most common Old World rail species, together with the Eurasian coot in some regions.

The common moorhen was formally described in 1758 by the Swedish naturalist Carl Linnaeus in the tenth edition of his Systema Naturae. He placed it in the genus Fulica and coined the binomial name Fulica chloropus. The common moorhen is now one of five extant species placed in the genus Gallinula that was introduced in 1760 by the French zoologist Mathurin Jacques Brisson. The genus name is from Latin gallinula meaning "little hen" or "little chicken". The specific epithet chloropus combines the Ancient Greek khlōros χλωρός meaning "green" and pous (πούς) meaning "foot".

The closely related common gallinule G. galeata of the New World, and the tristan moorhen G. nesiotis and gough moorhen G. comeri of the Tristan... Wikipedia →

Sounds

Call0:04

Spain · 2026

© Esperanza Poveda · XC1164450 · CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

Alarm call1:05

Taiwan · 2026

© Joan Theng · XC1156230 · CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

Nocturnal flight call0:07

Sweden · 2026

© Roger Ahlman · XC1103572 · CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

Global Distribution

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Daily sighting probability
1 Keoladeo National Park 🇮🇳 India
~70%
2 Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge 🇺🇸 United States
~60%
3 Doñana National Park 🇪🇸 Spain
~50%
4 Lago de Yojoa 🇭🇳 Honduras
~50%
5 Ranthambore National Park 🇮🇳 India
~50%
6 Snowdonia National Park 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
~40%
7 Ciénaga de Zapata 🇨🇺 Cuba
~40%
8 Camargue 🇫🇷 France
~30%
9 Kiskunság National Park 🇭🇺 Hungary
~30%
10 Caroni Swamp 🇹🇹 Trinidad and Tobago
~30%
11 Nairobi National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
~30%
12 Golden Gate Highlands National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
~30%
13 Garden Route National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
~30%
14 Hortobágy National Park 🇭🇺 Hungary
~20%
15 Mantadia National Park 🇲🇬 Madagascar
~20%
16 Sierra Nevada National Park 🇪🇸 Spain
~20%
17 Arrecifes de Cozumel National Park 🇲🇽 Mexico
~20%
18 Monfragüe National Park 🇪🇸 Spain
~20%
19 Cerro Azul Meámbar National Park 🇭🇳 Honduras
~20%
20 West Coast National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
~20%
21 Galápagos Islands 🇪🇨 Ecuador
~20%
22 Addo Elephant National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
~20%
23 Los Haitises National Park 🇩🇴 Dominican Republic
~20%
24 Jaragua National Park 🇩🇴 Dominican Republic
~20%
25 Aberdare National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
~20%
26 Ankarafantsika National Park 🇲🇬 Madagascar
~20%
27 Fertő-Hanság National Park 🇭🇺 Hungary
~20%
28 Chitwan National Park 🇳🇵 Nepal
~10%
29 Ngorongoro Conservation Area 🇹🇿 Tanzania
~10%
30 Iberá National Park 🇦🇷 Argentina
~10%
31 Biebrza National Park 🇵🇱 Poland
~10%
32 Wadden Sea National Park 🇩🇪 Germany
~10%
33 Biotopo Cerro Cahuí 🇬🇹 Guatemala
~10%
34 Arusha National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
~10%
35 Etosha National Park 🇳🇦 Namibia
~10%
36 Table Mountain National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
~10%
37 Lake Nakuru National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
~10%
38 Soberanía National Park 🇵🇦 Panama
~10%
39 Royal Bardia National Park 🇳🇵 Nepal
~10%
40 Cairngorms National Park 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
~10%
41 Everglades National Park 🇺🇸 United States
~10%
42 Kaziranga National Park 🇮🇳 India
~10%
43 Palo Verde National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
~10%
44 Bastimentos Island National Marine Park 🇵🇦 Panama
~10%
45 Serengeti National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
~10%
46 Tikal National Park 🇬🇹 Guatemala
~10%
47 Big Cypress National Preserve 🇺🇸 United States
~10%
48 El Impenetrable National Park 🇦🇷 Argentina
~10%
49 Mudumalai National Park 🇮🇳 India
~10%
50 iSimangaliso Wetland Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
~10%
51 Calakmul Biosphere Reserve 🇲🇽 Mexico
~10%
52 Bale Mountains National Park 🇪🇹 Ethiopia
~10%
53 Bavarian Forest National Park 🇩🇪 Germany
~10%
54 Akagera National Park 🇷🇼 Rwanda
~10%
55 Hwange National Park 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe
~10%
56 Pilanesberg National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
~10%
57 Amboseli National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
~10%
58 Chapada Diamantina National Park 🇧🇷 Brazil
~10%
59 Kaeng Krachan National Park 🇹🇭 Thailand
~10%
60 Tijuca National Park 🇧🇷 Brazil
~10%
61 La Amistad International Park (Panama) 🇵🇦 Panama
<5%
62 Yala National Park 🇱🇰 Sri Lanka
<5%
63 Vicente Pérez Rosales National Park 🇨🇱 Chile
<5%
64 Lake Mburo National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
<5%
65 Jiuzhaigou National Park 🇨🇳 China
<5%
66 Gir National Park 🇮🇳 India
<5%
67 Satpura National Park 🇮🇳 India
<5%
68 Aigüestortes National Park 🇪🇸 Spain
<5%
69 Gauja National Park 🇱🇻 Latvia
<5%
70 Bandipur National Park 🇮🇳 India
<5%
71 Kruger National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
<5%
72 Tarangire National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
<5%
73 uMkhuze Game Reserve 🇿🇦 South Africa
<5%
74 Tsavo West National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
<5%
75 Manas National Park 🇮🇳 India
<5%
76 Moremi Game Reserve 🇧🇼 Botswana
<5%
77 Iguazú National Park 🇦🇷 Argentina
<5%
78 De Hoop Nature Reserve 🇿🇦 South Africa
<5%
79 Henri Pittier National Park 🇻🇪 Venezuela
<5%
80 Ría Lagartos Biosphere Reserve 🇲🇽 Mexico
<5%
81 Bandhavgarh National Park 🇮🇳 India
<5%
82 Wilpattu National Park 🇱🇰 Sri Lanka
<5%
83 Kafue National Park 🇿🇲 Zambia
<5%
84 Chobe National Park 🇧🇼 Botswana
<5%
85 Białowieża National Park 🇵🇱 Poland
<5%
86 Pyrénées National Park 🇫🇷 France
<5%
87 Jim Corbett National Park 🇮🇳 India
<5%
88 Kerinci Seblat National Park 🇮🇩 Indonesia
<5%
89 Celestún Biosphere Reserve 🇲🇽 Mexico
<5%
90 Manu National Park 🇵🇪 Peru
<5%
91 Kanha National Park 🇮🇳 India
<5%
92 Queen Elizabeth National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
<5%
93 Itatiaia National Park 🇧🇷 Brazil
<5%
94 Sundarbans National Park 🇮🇳 India
<5%
95 Lauca National Park 🇨🇱 Chile
<5%
96 Serra dos Órgãos National Park 🇧🇷 Brazil
<5%
97 Iguaçu National Park 🇧🇷 Brazil
<5%
98 Bahía de Loreto National Park 🇲🇽 Mexico
<5%
99 Tortuguero National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
100 Sierra de Guadarrama National Park 🇪🇸 Spain
<5%
101 Khao Yai National Park 🇹🇭 Thailand
<5%
102 Samburu National Reserve 🇰🇪 Kenya
<5%
103 Masai Mara National Reserve 🇰🇪 Kenya
<5%
104 Nagarhole National Park 🇮🇳 India
<5%
105 Channel Islands National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
106 Parque Natural Metropolitano 🇵🇦 Panama
<5%
107 Point Pelee National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
<5%
108 Arenal Volcano National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%

Cities Where Found

# City Country Daily sighting probability
1 Ningbo 🇨🇳 China
~70%
2 Amsterdam 🇳🇱 Netherlands
~70%
3 Riyadh 🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia
~70%
4 Suzhou 🇨🇳 China
~70%
5 Srinagar 🇮🇳 India
~70%
6 Birmingham 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
~70%
7 Antalya 🇹🇷 Turkey
~70%
8 Liverpool 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
~70%
9 London 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
~60%
10 Antananarivo 🇲🇬 Madagascar
~60%

Zoos & Centres Where Found

# Zoo / Centre Country
1 Zhuhai Chimelong Ocean Kingdom 🇨🇳 China In captivity
2 Chimelong Spaceship 🇨🇳 China In captivity
3 Moscow Zoo 🇷🇺 Russia In captivity
4 Prague Zoo 🇨🇿 Czechia In captivity
5 ZooParc de Beauval 🇫🇷 France In captivity
6 Leipzig Zoological Garden 🇩🇪 Germany In captivity
7 Dublin Zoo 🇮🇪 Ireland In captivity
8 Zürich Zoo 🇨🇭 Switzerland In captivity
9 Parc des oiseaux 🇫🇷 France In captivity
10 Civic Aquarium of Milan 🇮🇹 Italy In captivity
11 San Diego Zoo Safari Park 🇺🇸 United States In captivity
12 Planète Sauvage 🇫🇷 France In captivity
13 Chester Zoo 🇬🇧 United Kingdom In captivity
14 Parque y Zoológico Nacional Arquitecto Manuel Valverde Podestá 🇩🇴 Dominican Republic In captivity
15 Zoo and Botanical Garden of Branféré 🇫🇷 France In captivity
16 Phoenix Zoo 🇺🇸 United States In captivity
17 Parco Natura Viva 🇮🇹 Italy In captivity
18 Hellabrunn Zoo 🇩🇪 Germany In captivity
19 Berlin Zoological Garden 🇩🇪 Germany In captivity
20 Zoologischer Garten Leipzig 🇩🇪 Germany In captivity
21 Gatorland 🇺🇸 United States In captivity
22 Zoo Opole 🇵🇱 Poland In captivity
23 Karlsruhe Zoo 🇩🇪 Germany In captivity
24 Schönbrunn Zoo 🇦🇹 Austria In captivity
25 Budapest Zoo & Botanical Garden 🇭🇺 Hungary In captivity
26 London Zoo 🇬🇧 United Kingdom In captivity
27 Green World Ecological Farm 🇹🇼 Taiwan In captivity
28 Valencia Bioparc 🇪🇸 Spain In captivity
29 Zoo Arche Noah Grömitz 🇩🇪 Germany In captivity
30 Aviario Nacional de Colombia 🇨🇴 Colombia In captivity
31 Monkeyland 🇿🇦 South Africa In captivity
32 Bioparque Wakatá 🇨🇴 Colombia In captivity
33 Elephant Sanctuary, The Crags, Plettenberg Bay 🇿🇦 South Africa In captivity
34 L'Oceanogràfic 🇪🇸 Spain In captivity
35 Touroparc Zoo 🇫🇷 France In captivity
36 Jardin zoologique de la ville de Lyon 🇫🇷 France In captivity
37 Parque Zoobotânico de Joinville 🇧🇷 Brazil In captivity
38 Santillana Zoo 🇪🇸 Spain In captivity
39 Sarasota Jungle Gardens 🇺🇸 United States In captivity
40 World of Birds Wildlife Sanctuary and Monkey Park 🇿🇦 South Africa In captivity
41 Zoo Koki (Parque zoológico y botánico) 🇪🇸 Spain In captivity
42 Birds of Eden 🇿🇦 South Africa In captivity
43 Ponderosa Zoo 🇬🇧 United Kingdom In captivity
44 Taconera 🇪🇸 Spain In captivity
45 Selwo Marina 🇪🇸 Spain In captivity
46 Florida Aquarium 🇺🇸 United States In captivity
47 Ralph Perkins II Wildlife Center and Woods Garden 🇺🇸 United States In captivity
48 Aquarium Berlin 🇩🇪 Germany In captivity
49 Rákosův pavilon 🇨🇿 Czechia In captivity
50 Velemlokárium 🇨🇿 Czechia In captivity

Closest Relatives at Amsterdam

Eurasian Coot
LC

Eurasian Coot

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Fulica atra

Daily sighting probability ~90% · Very likely
Water Rail
LC

Water Rail

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Rallus aquaticus

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
Eurasian Magpie
LC

Eurasian Magpie

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Pica pica

Daily sighting probability ~80% · Very likely
Mallard
LC

Mallard

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Anas platyrhynchos

Daily sighting probability ~80% · Very likely
Wood Pigeon
LC

Wood Pigeon

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Columba palumbus

Daily sighting probability ~80% · Very likely
Carrion Crow
LC

Carrion Crow

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Corvus corone

Daily sighting probability ~80% · Very likely
Eurasian Jackdaw
LC

Eurasian Jackdaw

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Coloeus monedula

Daily sighting probability ~80% · Very likely
Rose-ringed Parakeet

Rose-ringed Parakeet

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Psittacula krameri

Daily sighting probability ~70% · Very likely
Grey Heron
LC

Grey Heron

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Ardea cinerea

Daily sighting probability ~70% · Very likely
Eurasian Blackbird
LC

Eurasian Blackbird

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Turdus merula

Daily sighting probability ~70% · Very likely
Black-headed Gull

Black-headed Gull

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Chroicocephalus ridibundus

Daily sighting probability ~60% · Likely
Great Tit
LC

Great Tit

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Parus major

Daily sighting probability ~60% · Likely

Before you go

What are the chances of seeing a Common Moorhen in Amsterdam?

Very likely

About 70% of wildlife watchers report a Common Moorhen sighting in Amsterdam on a given day, based on 2,337 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data. It is the 7th most-seen of the 132 birds we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to over 90%, if each day is a fresh chance.

When is the best time to see a Common Moorhen in Amsterdam?

August to March

In those months about 80% of wildlife watchers report a Common Moorhen in Amsterdam on a given day, against about 60% in May and June, the lowest months.

What time of day is best to see a Common Moorhen?

Between 10 am and 1 pm

Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Common Moorhen sightings with a recorded time, and about 9 in 10 of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is a daytime animal.

Is Amsterdam the best place to see a Common Moorhen?

Among the best

Of the 270 cities where we can rate Common Moorhen sightings, Amsterdam ranks 2nd at about 70%, level with the leaders once rounded. The best odds are in Ningbo (China, about 70%).

Where does the Common Moorhen sighting chance come from?

GBIF citizen-science records

It is estimated from how often the Common Moorhen is recorded against all the birds logged in Amsterdam (2,337 verified sightings), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.

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