Order:
Gruiformes
Family: Rallidae
Gallinula chloropus
Common Moorhen / Gallineta común
Maximum size: 34 cm
Habitat
They live in lagoons, marshes, wetlands and dams. They are very common
in the south of Spain throughout the year.
They breed in different kinds of wetlands. Their chicks can be seen
from May.
They nurture their chicks with grey care. They feed on algae and vegetal,
as well as on invertebrates. As the chicks grow into young adults
they lose the red colour on their beaks and the black colour of their plumage.
Later they become grey-coloured with white necks, till they reach the adult
coloured plumage.
They can easily be watched in all aquatic ecosystems.