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Conspicuous blue and black waterhen with gigantic red bill and forehead shield.
Not listed
Indigenous: Moorlyaa
At a glance
FamilyRails, Gallinules, and Coots
SizeLarge
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 craig wilson
Range map
Range map
4519visible hotspots
625766visible 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
Has large feet and white under tail feathers which it flicks up and down when walking. Occurs in a wide variety of wetland habitats and is a common sight in urban parks.
Behavior
Conspicuous blue and black waterhen with gigantic red bill and forehead shield. They are very vocal, often making loud crowing calls and a range of other shorter squawks, including a single note squawk at night.
Gallery