Dusky moorhen fact sheet
What are dusky moorhens?
Dusky moorhens are medium-sized water birds. They are greyish black in colour with a white patch under the tail. They have red beaks and a red shield that sits between the eyes. The beak has a yellow tip. The scientific name for dusky moorhens is Gallinula tenebrosa. In Latin, tenebrosa means ‘dark’.
Dusky moorhens are often confused with the purple swamphens. Despite their name, purple swamphens are shades of blue, green and purple and are slightly larger than dusky moorhens.
Fast facts – Dusky moorhen
Scientific name – Gallinula tenebrosa – in Latin, tenebrosa means “dark”, referring to its dark plumage.
Appearance – Medium-sized water bird, greyish-black body, white patch under the tail, red beak with yellow tip and a red shield between the eyes. Have long, strong legs and very long splayed toes adapted for walking on mud, reeds and floating water plants.
Where they live – Live in wetlands such as swamps, marshes, lakes, ponds, rivers and park lakes where reeds, rushes and waterlilies grow. Common in parklands, especially in eastern Australia and parts of south-west Australia.
Food – Omnivores eating water plants, grasses, insects, small fish, snails, seeds, berries and sometimes dead animals and bird droppings. They feed both in water and on land.
Life cycle – In southern Australia they breed August–January; in the north from January–June. Groups of 2–7 adults work together to build the nest, defend it, incubate eggs and feed chicks. Two or more females lay 6–10 eggs each in one bulky nest made of reeds and rushes at the water’s edge or on a floating platform. Chicks are black and fluffy with a red beak; juveniles turn dull grey with black beaks before their red beak and shield develop. Dusky moorhens live for about 3 years.
What do dusky moorhens look like?
Male and female dusky moorhens are similar in appearance but males have a larger face shield.
Where do dusky moorhens live?
Dusky moorhens live in wetland habitats such as swamps, marshes, lakes, ponds, rivers and in parks where reeds, rushes and water lilies grow. They can be found in south west Australia and in larger numbers in eastern Australia. Dusky moorhens are a common sight in parklands. They live in pairs or small groups.
What do dusky moorhens eat?
Dusky moorhens are omnivores. Their diet includes water plants and grasses, insects, little fish, molluscs such as snails, seeds and berry fruits. They feed in the water and on land. They are known to eat dead animals and bird droppings too!
What structural adaptations do dusky moorhens have?
Dusky moorhens have well adapted legs and feet for slippery, muddy river banks and for swimming and wading in wetlands environments. Their long toes are also able to grasp and carry food to the beak. Dusky moorhens can swim but spend more time floating or walking on vegetation on the water’s surface.
What behavioural adaptations do dusky moorhens have?
Dusky moorhens use the long reeds and wetland grasses to hide in. They are less shy in parkland areas having adapted to the presence of humans. However they will aggressively defend their patch against intruders and groups of birds including other dusky moorhens.
Instead of diving, dusky moorhens upend (tip upside down) to eat vegetation and invertebrates under the water’s surface.
While feeding on the ground, they flick their tails up and down. The patch of white underneath the tail is flashed repeatedly. The reason for the tail flicking is not widely understood. It could be to warn off predators, to attract mates or to demonstrate they are alert to danger.
How do dusky moorhens reproduce and what is their life cycle?
Dusky moorhens breed from August to January in the south of Australia, and from January to June in the north. When it is time to breed, dusky moorhens will form a group of two to seven birds to help build the nest, to defend it, to incubate (sit on) the eggs and to feed the chicks. Two or more females lay their eggs in one nest. Each female will lay six to ten eggs.
They build a bulky nest using water plants such as reeds and rushes (long grasses). Nests are built at the water’s edge amongst the reeds or on floating platforms in the water.
Chicks are black and fluffy with a red beak. Juveniles (young adults) then turn a dullish grey and their beaks become black. The red beak and shield appear as they get older. Dusky moorhens live for approximately 3 years.
Related fact sheets
More bird fact sheets
- Bird fact sheets – overview
- Australian wood duck (another wetland bird)
- Pacific black duck
Habitats and food sources
Animals linked through food webs
- Invertebrate fact sheet – overview (food source)
Attributions
Image attributions
Dusky moorhens have long, strong legs and toes adapted to wetland conditions. - "Dusky Moorhen" by H.A.S PhotoDesigns~Heart+Soul~. CC BY 2.0(cropped)
An impressive red face shield which grows brighter in the warmer months. - "Dusky Moorhen" by anthonykaton778. CC BY 2.0 (cropped)
Long grasses and reeds are a great place to hide. - "Dusky Moorhen" by 0ystercatcher. CC BY-NC-SA 2.0 (cropped)
A little fish treat for a hungry dusky moorhen - "Dusky Moorhen ( take - away Dinner )" by friendsintheair. CC BY-SA 2.0 (cropped)
Dusky moorhens have strong legs with long toes to help them walk across floating beds of reeds, sticks and water lily pads. - "Dusky Moorhen (Gallinula tenebrosa)" by Brendan A Ryan. CC BY-NC-SA 2.0 (cropped)
Dusky moorhens are noisy birds. They shriek and honk loudly to mark territory, defend their nests and to raise alarm about potential threats. - "Dusky Moorhen (Gallinula tenebrosa)" by darrylkirby. CC BY-NC-SA 2.0 (cropped)
A floating nest amongst the lily pads - "Dusky Moorhen (Gallinula tenebrosa) - Hunter Valley Gardens.01" by Geoff Whalan. CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 (cropped)