The Dusky Moorhens (Gallinula tenebrosa) are rails found in Australia, New Guinea, and Indonesia. They inhabit wetland habitats, with a preference for freshwater marshes.
Description
Those occurring in New Guinea tend to be smaller (averaging 25-32 cm in length). The Australian race measures between 35–40 cm in length and has a wingspan of 55–65 cm.
The adult Dusky Moorhen is mainly dark grey-black, with a browner tinge to the upper plumage.
t has a red frontal shield and yellow-tipped red bill and has orange-yellow legs.
Males and females look alike, but young birds have mid-brown plumage.
Calls / Vocalizations
It’s call is described as a loud kruk call.
Diet / Feeding
They feed on a wide range of plant and animal foods.
Breeding / Nesting
They build bulky nests at the water’s edge.
A clutch consists of 5 – 18 whitish eggs.
They aggressively defend their breeding territories
