Common Moorhen

The Common Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus) (also known as the "swamp chicken") is a bird in the Rallidae family with an almost worldwide distribution. The North and South American Committees of the AOU and the IOC have voted on or before July 2011 to split the American forms into a new species Common Gallinule, however, no other committee has voted to change taxonomy yet. In that light, the American forms can now be found under a separate species listing Common Gallinule, however all forms can still be found here until further actions are taken. It lives around well-vegetated marshes, ponds, canals and other wetlands. The species is not found in the polar regions, or many tropical rainforests. But elsewhere the Common Moorhen is likely the most commonly seen rail species to most people, excepting the Eurasian Coot or American Coot in some regions.