<< Previous Next >>

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
Date Submitted: 2008-03-21 6:05
Viewed: 793
Points: 54
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note [French]
An adult Common Moorhen (Gallinula Chloropus 33 cm) on a pond by a beautiful day last September.

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
Size: 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.
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
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)
eqshannon, goldyrs, maurydv, fartash, CeltickRanger, Proframe, jusninasirun, jaycee, boreocypriensis, gerbilratz, Juyona, angela926, zulfu, Argus, nkasot, Alex99, NinaM, Pentaxfriend, SkyF, pierrefonds has marked this note useful
Only registered TrekNature members may rate photo notes.
Add Critique [Critiquing Guidelines] 
Only registered TrekNature members may write critiques.
Discussions
None
You must be logged in to start a discussion.

Critiques [Translate]

I just came in from "outside" on this second day of spring..I was taking images of the fresh snow falling as I type. This image is much more what I should be seeing out of my window in weather terms. Perhaps I should also dig into my archives of summer:-) wonderful work Mario. I enjoy this slight change of pace.
Bob

Mario,
What an awesome shot of this beautiful Moorhen!You've captured some beautiful details, especially the plumage and the ripples around the bird are perfect!
Thank you!
Kind regards,
Goldy

Bellissima immagine, ottimi POV e DOF, eccellente nitidezza, splendidi e splendenti colori e riflessi. Grazie e complimenti.
Ciao Maurizio

Dear Mario
What a wonderful shot of this Common Moorhen,
Perfect details,exposure and POV,Superb shot my friend.

Regards
Fartash

salut Mario

une très belle photo de cette Poule d'eau, j'aimes ton POV
à la hauteur du sujet et que dans le cadrage tu ai laissé
une bonne espace devant le sujet, excellent DOF,
belle luminosité de l'Image, belle reflection à l'eau,
excellente netteté et détails, TFS

Asbed

  • Great 
  • lousat Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1107 W: 6 N: 3063] (11326)
  • [2008-03-21 7:27]

Salut Mario,cette fois tu es passe' des arbres a l'eau mais les resultats sont toujours extraordinaires,une photo fantastique ave des details et des couleurs impressionants,merci de partager,Luciano

Hi Mario,

It surely was wonderful weather when you took this shot.
Love the light and the natural surrounding.
The image is razor sharp and you did a great job on exposure.
Color contrast and feather details are very beautiful.
TFS!!!

Best regards and I do wish you and yours a very Happy Easter.

Harry

Hello Mario. This is excellent moorhen on the beautiful ripples on the surface. The sharpness is flawless and details are so vivid in the shot. Thanks for sharing this and very well done. Regards. Jusni

  • Great 
  • jaycee Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1911 W: 8 N: 4976] (16095)
  • [2008-03-21 8:48]

Hi Mario,

Wonderful Moorhen with your usual spectacular colors and details. Even the water looks fantastic. The face and feathers are superb.

Jane

Hi Mario,
Perfect shot of this beutiful adult Common Moorhen with excellent details, DOF and POV, sharpness my friend. The reflections on the water surface are great too. TFS. Have a nice Easter time my friend.
Regards,
Bayram

  • Great 
  • hibou Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 206 W: 1 N: 351] (1561)
  • [2008-03-21 9:48]

Salut Mario !
Une autre parfaite !
Salut
Donald

Hi Mario, one of my favourite water birds beautifully captured. The clarity of the overall composition is superbly done. Great reflection and good eye contact...a very nice image indeed..TFS

  • Great 
  • Juyona Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 2108 W: 6 N: 2116] (13589)
  • [2008-03-21 12:23]

Hola amigo,
bello trabajo,
iluminación y estupendo foco...
plumaje hermoso y color,
saludos

  • Great 
  • Nilson Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 354 W: 0 N: 300] (2268)
  • [2008-03-21 12:29]

Exelente foto de qualidade muito boa cos detalhes muito bom meus parabéns.
Nilson

Hello Mario,
Aphoto with good light and colors.
Well done
TFS
Annick

  • Great 
  • rdfoto Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 375 W: 0 N: 747] (3202)
  • [2008-03-21 13:54]

Bonjour Mario
Très belle poule d'eau, excellente netteté, lumière et couleurs, très beau sujet.
Amicalement Robi

  • Great 
  • joey Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1888 W: 245 N: 6180] (22002)
  • [2008-03-21 13:56]

Nice shot of this Moorhen Mario!
I love the ripples and reflection on the water.
Superb clarity and sharpness.
You handled the harsh light well.
Great work!
Thanks,
Joe

Hello Mario,
Very nice capture, excellent sharpness and depth of field, beautiful natural colors and nice light,
Angela

  • Great 
  • zulfu Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 600 W: 0 N: 117] (669)
  • [2008-03-21 16:38]

Hello Mario,
Wonderful and lovely shot of this beutiful moorhen. Great composition. TFS and regards,
Mehmet

Bonsoir Mario,

Pas mon clavier. Je reviens demain pour :-)
Bonne soiree
Mariki

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2770 W: 151 N: 7984] (24857)
  • [2008-03-22 2:58]

Hello Mario,
Fine sharp capture of a Moorhen with excellent water movement. Nice lighting, POV and composition.
Thanks for sharing this fine image and Happy Easter to you,
Ivan

Hello Mario, A perfect capture and all criteria are excellent. Thanks for sharing.
and Have a nice Easter holiday!
Regards,

Nazım

  • Great 
  • Alex99 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3174 W: 154 N: 4796] (15481)
  • [2008-03-22 9:14]

Hi Mario.
What a colourfull and full of lights picture of the cute bird. You managed to reflect all its tiny details and features. Feathers and beak, pose of the bird and reflections in the water, nice ripples are amazing. Bravo and all the best.
Alexei.

  • Great 
  • NinaM Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 655 W: 0 N: 1623] (5300)
  • [2008-03-22 9:51]

Qu'il est bon de voir toute cette belle lumière sur ce bel oiseau... canard... poulette??!! Très belle photo cher artiste Mario. Je ne critique plus tes photos, elles sont sensationnelles les unes après les autres. Mais elles me font du bien par leur beauté, leur simplicité qui dit tout. Merci!

Francine

Hi Mario,

PERFECT shot
the light in this shot is Fantastic aswell as the sharp details
POV, DOF and colors are SUPERB

TFS Thijs

  • Great 
  • SkyF Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2390 W: 194 N: 1991] (8113)
  • [2008-03-24 6:46]

Hello Mario,
I find them so hard to photograph, but you found the perfect lighting to bring out all the highlights in its plumage.
Wonderful catch, with lovely colors and great details.
TFS>.Sky

Bonjour Mario,

La capture des ondes en surface de l'eau est un atout à la composition. La prise de vue permet de voir les détails et les couleurs de l'oiseau. Le sujet est bien cadré. La lumière rehausse les couleurs. Bonne journée.

Pierre

Calibration Check
















0123456789ABCDEF