Moorhen Gallinula chloropus at Cley nature reserve Norfolk
The common moorhen is a meduim-sized member of the rail family found in aquatic environments. It is 12-15 inches in length and has a wingspan of a little under two feet. It has gray-black feathers and a red bill with a yellow tip. It has white stripes on its sides. It has long chicken-like toes that help it walk on the top of floating vegetation and the mud. Males and females are similar, but males are a little larger. The female common moorhen lays four to twelve eggs at a rate of one egg per day. The eggs hatch in 17-22 days. The chicks will leave the nest and feed themselves within a few days of birth. Both parents care for the chicks. The chicks fledge in about five to seven weeks. The mating pair may raise more than one brood in a season, using the same nest.
Size: 5018px × 3343px
Location: Norfolk England UK
Photo credit: © Ernie Janes / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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