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Common Moorhen


Common Moorhen
Photo Information
Copyright: Mario Belanger (EOSF1) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1427 W: 128 N: 5252] (23221)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2007-09-01
Categories: Birds
Camera: Canon EOS 20D, Canon EF 100-400 F4-5.6 L IS USM, ISO 100, B+W 77 010 UV-Haze 1 x
Exposure: f/5.6, 1/250 seconds
Details: Tripod: Yes
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version, Workshop
Date Submitted: 2008-01-18 9:36
Viewed: 736
Points: 56
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note [French]
A young Common Moorhen (Gallinula Chloropus 33 cm) with its reflection on a pond of Ile-Bizard.

From: www.birds.cornell.edu

The most widely distributed member of the rail family, the Common Moorhen inhabits marshes and ponds from Canada to Chile, from northern Europe to southern Africa, and across Asia to the Pacific. Vocal and boldly marked, the species can be quite conspicuous, sometimes using its long toes to walk atop floating vegetation.

Cool Facts:
The Common Moorhen has long toes that makes it possible to walk on soft mud and floating vegetation. The toes have no lobes or webbing to help in swimming, but the moorhen is a good swimmer anyway.

The Common Moorhen sometimes lifts its feet out of the water in front of the body while swimming, perhaps to pass over vegetation.

Newly hatched chicks of the Common Moorhen have spurs on their wings that help them climb into the nest or grab emergent vegetation.

Twelve subspecies of Common Gallinule are recognized from around the world, most differing only in size or brightness of plumage. One subspecies is found only in the Hawaiian Islands and has been known as the Hawaiian Gallinule.

Description
topSize: 32-35 cm (13-14 in)
Wingspan: 54-62 cm (21-24 in)
Weight: 310-456 g (10.94-16.1 ounces)

Dark, with white flank stripe.
Red bill and forehead.
Swims on surface of water like a duck.
Bill triangular like a chicken's, not flat like a duck's.
White stripe on sides of undertail.

Breeding (Alternate) Plumage: Mostly blackish body, brown wings, and white flank stripe. Undertail white with a black line in middle. Forehead shield and bill bright red; bill with yellow tip. Legs olive-yellow. Ring of scarlet just below thigh feathers.
Nonbreeding (Basic) Plumage: Chin, throat, and underparts paler than on breeding adult. Bill and forehead shield dusky red.

Sex Differences
Sexes similar, male slightly larger.

Immature
Juvenile brownish-gray with drab maroon bill and no frontal shield.

Similar Species

Adult Purple Gallinule has blue body plumage, green wings, and a blue frontal shield, and lacks white flank stripe. Juvenile Purple Gallinule has tawny neck and head, mostly white underparts, and greenish wings. Purple Gallinule lacks black line down the middle of the undertail coverts.
American Coot is stockier, has white bill, unmarked flanks, and mostly dark undertail coverts.

Sound
A highly varied repertoire of calls, including clucks, whinnies, cackles, squawks, and yelps.

Range
Breeds in appropriate habitat scattered throughout the United States, from southern Minnesota through the Great Lakes region to the Atlantic Coast, southward through the Mississippi River basin to the Gulf Coast, and locally in the western states, including the California coast and Central Valley, the Salton Sea, and the Colorado River. Also in much of Mexico, South America, Europe, and Asia, as well as islands in the Caribbean and the Pacific.

Winter Range
Resident in West, along Gulf Coast, and southern Atlantic Coast. Moorhens breeding in the north Atlantic and Midwestern states winter from North Carolina to Texas, and possibly southward to Central and South America.

Habitat
Freshwater or brackish marshes with tall emergent vegetation, ponds, canals, and rice fields.

Food
Seeds of grasses and sedges, and some snails.

Behavior
Foraging
Picks food from water surface or from emergent plants while walking or swimming. Dips head, dabbles, and occasionally dives. Flips floating leaves to take snails clinging to undersides.

Reproduction
Nest Type
A wide bowl of grasses and sedges, usually taken from near the nest site. Most commonly anchored to emergent vegetation within a meter of water.

Egg Description
Gray or buff with variable speckles and splotches.

Clutch Size
3-15 eggs.
Condition at Hatching
Eyes open; covered with gray down except on head and wings.

Conservation Status
Listed as threatened or as a species of special concern in several Midwestern and Northeastern states because of loss of wetland habitat, predation by introduced mammals, and other factors.

Other Names
Gallinule poule-d'eau, Poule d'eau (French)
Pollo de agua, Gallareta frentirroja, Pollona negra (Spanish)
Common Gallinule, Florida Gallinule (English)
nglen, Adanac, uleko, eqshannon, jaycee, Juyona, SelenE, vanderschelden, Ena, thijs, NinaM, Evelynn, rcrick, Islander_, dejo, wuta, mariki, Argus, Miss_Piggy, marhowie, pierrefonds has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To marhowie: Thanks Howard !EOSF1 1 01-23 07:26
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • nglen Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 2130 W: 9 N: 5960] (22528)
  • [2008-01-18 9:40]

Hi mario. very clear colours and good use of the light in this one. making a very good refection in the water. good detail and POV. well done TFS.
Nick..
Have a good weekend.

  • Great 
  • Adanac Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1111 W: 1 N: 4518] (15132)
  • [2008-01-18 9:55]

Hello Mario,
Beautiful natural scene captured with superb camera work. The reeds and out of focus pink aquatic flowers add to this lovely composition. Thank you Mario.
Rick

  • Great 
  • lousat Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1107 W: 6 N: 3063] (11326)
  • [2008-01-18 10:09]

Salut Mario. Cette fois encore plus belle,les reflections,les fleurs,l'habitat..et la gallinula surtout,merci pour cette magnifique photo et pour la note,Luciano

This applies many techniques I use in picture taking...and the saturation to me is wonderful and full framed. It is another change of direction in your own postings and an enjoyable one which shows how diverse you and for that matter many can be if they wish...You are however on the cutting edge...Very nice Image Mario...
bob

  • Great 
  • jaycee Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1911 W: 8 N: 4976] (16095)
  • [2008-01-18 11:01]

Hi Mario,

A beautiful scene showing off this Moorhen. The lighting is wonderful. Beautiful colors - I love the green leaves and pink flowers. Nice sharp details with the reflections as sharp as the real thing. Nice ripples in the water - Nature at its best.

Jane

  • Great 
  • Juyona Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 2108 W: 6 N: 2116] (13589)
  • [2008-01-18 11:19]

Hola amigo,
precioso momento,
iluminación y reflejos,
bella composición, y pov,
saludos

  • Great 
  • SelenE Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2426 W: 63 N: 4002] (12926)
  • [2008-01-18 11:24]

Hi Mario,
POV, composition, color tones, and the reflection of the bird on the water look very nice. TFS
Have a nice weekend,
Selen

Hello Mario,
Good work. Nice colours. Great light....
Well done
TFS
Annick

Hi Mario,
Excellent captured with good sharpness, vivid colour and details and I loved the reflection alot!
many thanks for sharing
Tony

  • Great 
  • Ena Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 359 W: 61 N: 570] (2343)
  • [2008-01-18 14:29]

Hello Mario,
Very nice capture of this bird in habitat!
Well composed!
TFS
Regards
Ena

  • Great 
  • thijs Silver Star Critiquer/Silver Note Writer [C: 36 W: 4 N: 42] (168)
  • [2008-01-18 14:54]

Hi Mario

Lovely composition of this Common Moorhen. I like the reflections in the water, and the light falling on the head of this bird. Great sharpness, and details. Very beautifull surroundings. Well done!

TFS, Thijs

  • Great 
  • NinaM Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 655 W: 0 N: 1623] (5300)
  • [2008-01-18 17:45]

Bonsoir Mario, un ptit chef d'oeuvre. Quelle belle composition, c'est très réussi. J'adore les feuilles derrière la petite poule, toutes symétriques et créant du dynamisme. Les ronds qui partent du devant de l'oiseau ajoutent aussi du dynamisme, mais tout en douceur. La réflexion sur l'eau... les fleurs roses qui viennent éclairer un ensemble très harmonieux. C'est beau. Merci,

Francine

Hi Mario,
There is a lot to like about this image. Focus, exposure and color are so good. The greens are so natural. Greens are often problematic. I love the vertical reflections in contrast to the more horizontal ?sedges? leading to the subject. The touches of pink are just what is needed to break all the greens. The image is a little "contrasty" on my monitor so I took the liberty to play with it a bit.

TFS
Evelynn : )

  • Great 
  • rcrick Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 648 W: 42 N: 1198] (3860)
  • [2008-01-18 22:43]

Hello Mario,
Beautiful composition, excellent detail I like the reflections in the water and the exposure is perfect, all the best Cheers Rick :)

  • Great 
  • uleko Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2585 W: 170 N: 7879] (24911)
  • [2008-01-19 0:27]

Hello Mario,
I love the reflections here and the Moorhen is very nicely in focus too. I almost feel I'm there looking at this lovely scene! Well done!
Many thanks, Ulla

  • Great 
  • joey Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1888 W: 245 N: 6180] (22002)
  • [2008-01-19 3:08]

Hi Mario,
beautifully lit image of this Moorhen.
Effective low-down POV that still keeps the great reflection in the frame.
Nice range of colours and excellent exposure.
Very clear with great sharpness.
Well done Mario,
Joe

  • Great 
  • krall Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 165 W: 0 N: 55] (2224)
  • [2008-01-19 4:55]

Very nice capture,

Well composed!

Bonjour Mario,

Une belle composition soulignant l'habitat, très belle reflection, point de vue bien choisi, couleurs magnifiques. Cependant, un peu trop d'ombres sur l'oiseau lui-même, à mon goût.

Eugène

Bonjour Mario,
Très belle composiiton, j'aime beaucou ces fleurs dans cet étang avec ce canrd, le jeu des couler ses ttès beaux.
Merci
Marie

  • Great 
  • carper Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2192 W: 124 N: 2600] (8410)
  • [2008-01-19 10:05]

it is a very nice photo Mario,
the pov is great complete with a fantastic reflection, good colours, good format and well framed, good photojob, have a nice evening.
gr. jaap

  • Great 
  • wuta Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 884 W: 2 N: 617] (2072)
  • [2008-01-19 10:18]

Hello Mario , Beautifull capture of this bird , great shot colours details reflection sharpnes ,tfs Greetings Teunie .

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2770 W: 151 N: 7984] (24857)
  • [2008-01-19 13:08]

Hello Mario,
Very appealing capture of a juvenile Moorhen in its native environment, beautifully composed on the water with its refection and the surrounding reeds and surface aquatic vegetation. spot on focusing with good sharpness.
Thanks for sharing this tranquil scene,
Ivan

Hallo Mario
A lovely sunny and peaceful scene you have captured here. This Moorhen looks very relaxed and undisturbed. I like the mirror image of the hen in the water. The greenery and the pink flowers add a special touch to this photograph. A lovely nature scene, well presented. Thanks for sharing.
Kind regards
Anna

Hello Mario,

Beautiful composition. Good focus on the moorhen. Beautiful reflections. Wonderful colours.
Cheers,
Mariki

Hi Mario,
Just got back, a bit tired..I'm staring at this trying to figure out how you managed the awesome reflection..
Last night I thought you'd somehow added some extra reflected canvas in there FG..Just my tired brain playing tricks on me ;}
I like the the posted + contrast version better.
Well done!
Howard

  • Great 
  • dejo Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 355 W: 51 N: 476] (2058)
  • [2008-01-20 12:06]

Hello Mario,
great picture, captured beautiflly in great pose and in its natural habitat,
nice details, great work
best regards, Dejan

  • Great 
  • arfer Gold Star Critiquer [C: 2731 W: 0 N: 0] (0)
  • [2008-01-20 17:31]

Hello Mario

Lovely lighting and reflections in this shot.The colours are lovely.
The shot is well focused with excellent details.
Very good low POV,are you in a hide?
The Swamp Smartweed flowers add a nice accent to the image.
TFS

Rob

Bonsoir Mario,

Cette Gallinule poule-d'eau est impressionnante. La végétation encadre bien l'oiseau. Les réflections dans l'eau donnent un effet spécial àla photo. Bonne soirée.

Pierre

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