Common Moorhen

Q: What are the chances of seeing a Common Moorhen in iSimangaliso Wetland Park?

With luck. About 10% of wildlife watchers report a Common Moorhen sighting in iSimangaliso Wetland Park on a given day, based on 120 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 166th most-seen of the 351 birds we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 20%, and over a week to about 40%, if each day is a fresh chance.

Q: When is the best time to see a Common Moorhen in iSimangaliso Wetland Park?

February, April–June and August–December. In those months about 10% of wildlife watchers report a Common Moorhen in iSimangaliso Wetland Park on a given day, against under 5% in January, March and July, the lowest months.

Q: 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.

Q: Is iSimangaliso Wetland Park the best place to see a Common Moorhen?

50th of 108. Of the 108 parks where we can rate Common Moorhen sightings, iSimangaliso Wetland Park ranks 50th at about 10%. The best odds are in Keoladeo National Park (India, about 70%), Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge (United States, about 60%) and Doñana National Park (Spain, about 50%). All parks ranked.

Q: 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 iSimangaliso Wetland Park (120 verified sightings from 2019 to 2026), 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.

Gallinula chloropus

Silhouette: Andy Wilson · PhyloPic

LCLeast ConcernNTVUENCR

KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
PhylumChordata (Chordates)
ClassAves (Birds)
OrderGruiformes (Cranes, Rails, and Allies)
FamilyRallidae (Rails, Gallinules, and Coots)
GenusGallinula (Typical Moorhens)
SpeciesGallinula chloropus (Common Moorhen)

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck

at iSimangaliso Wetland Park

In 3 days ~20% in a week ~40%

120 Verified sightings at iSimangaliso Wetland Park From 2019 to 2026

30,866 In all 108 parks

May Best month

☀️ Diurnal When it's spotted

Challenge City Pond Birds EuropeMedium

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

Alarm call1:05

Taiwan · 2026

Nocturnal flight call0:07

Sweden · 2026

Global Distribution

Where it is recorded most Our parks where it lives Our cities where it livesIn captivity: 54 zoos & centres

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

Show all 50 Show fewer

Closest Relatives at iSimangaliso Wetland Park

Gallinula angulata

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

Amaurornis flavirostra

Daily sighting probability ~20% · Possible

Porphyrio porphyrio

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck

Sarothrura elegans

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck

Fulica cristata

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

Porphyrio alleni

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

Rallus caerulescens

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

Podica senegalensis

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

Pycnonotus barbatus

Daily sighting probability ~70% · Very likely

Bostrychia hagedash

Daily sighting probability ~60% · Likely

Dryoscopus cubla

Daily sighting probability ~60% · Likely

Chlorocichla flaviventris

Daily sighting probability ~60% · Likely

See all 12 relatives Show fewer

Before you go

What are the chances of seeing a Common Moorhen in iSimangaliso Wetland Park?

With luck

About 10% of wildlife watchers report a Common Moorhen sighting in iSimangaliso Wetland Park on a given day, based on 120 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 166th most-seen of the 351 birds we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 20%, and over a week to about 40%, if each day is a fresh chance.

When is the best time to see a Common Moorhen in iSimangaliso Wetland Park?

February, April–June and August–December

In those months about 10% of wildlife watchers report a Common Moorhen in iSimangaliso Wetland Park on a given day, against under 5% in January, March and July, 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 iSimangaliso Wetland Park the best place to see a Common Moorhen?

50th of 108

Of the 108 parks where we can rate Common Moorhen sightings, iSimangaliso Wetland Park ranks 50th at about 10%. The best odds are in Keoladeo National Park (India, about 70%), Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge (United States, about 60%) and Doñana National Park (Spain, about 50%). All parks ranked.

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 iSimangaliso Wetland Park (120 verified sightings from 2019 to 2026), 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.

← Back to iSimangaliso Wetland Park

Common Moorhen

About the Common Moorhen

Sounds

Recent sightings of Common Moorhen in iSimangaliso Wetland Park

Global Distribution

Parks Where Found

Cities Where Found

Zoos & Centres Where Found

Closest Relatives at iSimangaliso Wetland Park

Lesser Moorhen

Black Crake

Western Swamphen

Buff-spotted Flufftail

Red-knobbed Coot

Allen's Gallinule

African Rail

African Finfoot

Common Bulbul

Hadada

Black-backed Puffback

Yellow-bellied Greenbul

Before you go

What are the chances of seeing a Common Moorhen in iSimangaliso Wetland Park?

When is the best time to see a Common Moorhen in iSimangaliso Wetland Park?

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

Is iSimangaliso Wetland Park the best place to see a Common Moorhen?

Where does the Common Moorhen sighting chance come from?