Gallinula chloropus Moorhen Skull Birds Aves Gruiformes Rallidae

Description

Origin : Italy

Size : cm 5.9

Common Moorhen Skull Gallinula chloropus cm 5.9 Birds Aves Gruiformes Rallidae, complete of mandible, as in photos.
Family: Rallidae.
Common name: Common Moorhen, Waterhen or Swamp Chicken.
Syn. Fulica chloropus, Fulica fusca.

The moorhen can be recognized by its black plumage on the front and dark brown on the back of the body and wings; the yellow beak is equipped with a red wax at the base. The closed wings have a stripe of white feathers, as is the back under the short tail. The length exceeds 30 cm. The legs are greenish yellow in color, with very long toes. The gurnard is a skilled swimmer, while the flight is rather heavy.
It is an omnivorous species: it feeds on aquatic insects, small fish, crustaceans, molluscs, shoots of aquatic plants and other plant matter.
It builds its nest in the thick of aquatic vegetation. The females lay five to ten eggs which are incubated by both sexes for over twenty days. The little ones follow their parents by whom they are looked after for a few weeks. They can be preyed upon by the gray heron. The moorhen, with 5 subspecies, is widespread in Europe, Africa and Asia.