Dusky Moorhen

The New Guinea birds are smaller, at 25-32 cm in length, than the Australian race . In Indonesia, this species is declining because of competition from the closely related Common Moorhen on the islands where both birds occur.

The Dusky Moorhen is classified as Least Concern. Does not qualify for a more at risk category. Widespread and abundant taxa are included in this category.

The Dusky Moorhen Gallinula tenebrosa occurs in Australia, New Guinea and Indonesia. New Guinea birds are smaller, at 25-32cm in length, than the Australian race (35-40 cm, 55-65 cm wingspan). In Indonesia, it is losing ground to the closely related Common Moorhen Gallinula chloropus on those islands where both birds occur. 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-green legs. More

the world today from the dusky moorhen of Australia to the lesser moorhen of Africa, and the spot-flanked moorhen of South America. The common moorhen is found throughout the world but does not occur in the polar regions or in tropical rainforests. Moorhens spend their life on the water and have a number of adaptations including webbed-toes which aids the moorhen in both swimming and walking about on the slippery banks that line the water's edge. More

Dusky Moorhen in Western Australia - Posted by BESG on 9 April 09, Thursday Contributed by willis Willis was in Western Australia in December 2008 and visited Herdsman Lake in northwestern Perth. There, he encountered the Dusky Moorhen (Gallinula tenebrosa). “Like clockwork, the moorhens will start chasing one another round the lake after 7pm. So I’m prone flat on the ground waiting for the action to start. More

Dusky Moorhen, juvenile pulling at water plant. Dusky Moorhen, juvenile pulling at water plant. Photo: K Vang and W Dabrowka / Bird Explorers © K Vang and W Dabrowka / Bird Explorers Dusky Moorhen nest with eggs. Dusky Moorhen nest with eggs. Photo: Purnell Collection © Australian Museum Dusky Moorhen, adult with young bird. Dusky Moorhen, adult with young bird. More

Dabbs is just one of the many dusky moorhens that always seem to be around Calamvale Creek. Our photographer says that even though they are among the most common birds around the creek, they are hard to photograph because they are so skittish. The photographer said: “I take a lot of photos of the dusky moorhens, but most don't turn out well. More

Dusky Moorhens foraging on the ground flick their tails vertically, revealing their conspicuous undertail co- verts (e.g. Garnett 1978, 1980, Woodland et al. 1980; but see Ridpath 1972). The function of this behavior is poorly understood (see Craig 1982, Alvarez 1993). There are several possible explanations why Dusky Moorhens tail-flick, none of which are mutually ex- clusive. More

The Dusky Moorhen (Gallinula tenebrosa) is a bird in the rail family. It occurs in Australia, New Guinea, and Indonesia. The New Guinea birds are smaller, at 25-32 cm in length, than the Australian race (35–40 cm, 55–65 cm wingspan). In Indonesia, this species is declining because of competition from the closely related Common Moorhen on the islands where both birds occur. The adult Dusky Moorhen is mainly dark grey-black, with a browner tinge to the upper parts. More

Description: The Dusky Moorhen Gallinula tenebrosa, at 35-38cm is slightly smaller than a Swamphen. The Bill and frontal shield is red with a yellow tip. The iris is olive, while the body slate-grey and the wings & rump browner. The tail is black with white sides to undertail coverts. Legs red, although sometimes olive below the knee. Sexes are alike, but immature are paler, lack colour on the bill and have green legs. They swim with a jerking head motion. More

The Dusky Moorhen is a more recent 'invader', first recorded on Flinders Island in 1935, and present and breeding since the 1960s, on King Islan d. By 1977 it was recorded as breeding in the Launceston area (I can remember seeing them there then, on the surrounds of the then Launceston tip). From that time there has been a gradual southward range expansion. More

What does dusky moorhen eat? What does a dusky moorhen eat? Map of where dusky leaf monkeys kive? One wierd fact about a Dusky Moorhen? Why do the dusky moorhens habitat live in? Why does the dusky moorhen like its habitat? ADVERTISEMENT Answer these * What does The maintenance of a relatively stable internal condition mean? In: Biochemistry • Answer it! * Who assumed command of the army of the Potomac three days before More

The band that would go on to become Dusky Moorhen was intially formed during the summer of 2007, as four piece rock n roll cover band formally known as The Hurricanes. After a long-due name change and the loss of a member, the three remaining members (Chris Macris, Sean Griffiths and Matthew Griffiths) decided to tune in on their swamp rock and blues roots, drawing from an expansive range of influences from Cream to Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers to Elvis Presley. More

Dusky Moorhen is a medium-sized bird. Both adults have dark grey-black plumage, and conspicuous white undertail. We can see a brownish tinge on upperparts, rather on wings and rump. Tail is black above, with white outer feathers. Head is shiny black. Frontal shield and bill are orange-red. Bill has yellow tip. Eyes are brown. Legs and feet are orange-yellow, but they may sometimes have olive-green colour under knees. Both sexes are similar. More

The Dusky Moorhen is small and black, with two yellow tufts and a red and yellow beak, that comes up all the way to his head. It has faily small webbed feet. More

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. Sexes are similar, but young birds have mid-brown plumage. This is a noisy species with a loud kruk call. Dusky Moorhen is found in wetland habitats, with a preference for freshwater marshes. More

Dusky Moorhen is found in wetland habitats, with a preference for freshwater marshes. It will forage on rubbish tips, and is generally omnivorous, taking a wide variety of plant and animal food. This species builds a bulky nest at the water's edge, and lays 5-18 whitish eggs. It is territorial when breeding, but otherwise gregarious. References - * BirdLife International (2004). Gallinula tenebrosa. More

The Dusky Moorhen is about 380 millimetres long and has a slim bill that is bright red. The body is slate-grey with the wings and rump browner. The tail is black with a white patch underneath. Legs are yellow, scarlet and olive. Male and female plumage is identical. When disturbed, Dusky Moorhens flick their tails and display the white patch. More