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Dark waterhen with white edges to the under tail.
Not listed
Indigenous: Moorhen, Black Gallinule, Black Moorhen
At a glance
FamilyRails, Gallinules, and Coots
SizeMedium
RarityCommon
HabitatReedbeds, marsh edges, farm dams, sedgelands, and thick waterside vegetation.
Best timeReported across most months in Victoria, with no narrow seasonal peak.
Sounds
Sound sampleRecorded by Marc Anderson
Range map
Range map
4778visible hotspots
622128visible records
6states
SparseModerateDense hotspot
Aggregated occurance data is sourced from 14 different actively-updating datasets including eBird Australia, iNaturalist Australia, BirdLife Australia, and multiple state-based bird surveys through Atlas of Living Australia.
Species notes
Overview
Bill and forehead shield are primarily red with a yellow tip. Typically fairly vocal, produces a wide array of shrieking sounds.
Behavior
Juvenile and non-breeding adult may be confused with other species due to their less colorful bills, which may appear primarily dark.
Gallery