| Rangewide Distribution:
Eastern & southwestern United States, Gulf Coast through
most of South America Abundance: Common Breeding Habitat: Marshes, swamps & lakes with emergent vegetation or grassy edges Nest: Rimmed cup of bleached aquatic plants, lined with grass, usually over water or on ground or shrubs Eggs: 5-8 cinnamon or buff with reddish-brown or olive marks Incubation: 19-22 days Fledging: 40-50+ days |
The Common Moorhen breeds in freshwater marshes vegetated with cattails (Typha
spp.), bulrushes (Scirpus spp.) and willows (Salix spp.). They
do not require a large marsh and may reside in small patches of emergent vegetation
at the edge of lakes or rivers (Terres 1987). Their nests, which are usually
anchored in vegetation at the water's surface, are similar in appearance to
an American Coot's nest but smaller in diameter (Fredrickson 1971).
Common Moorhens are extremely hard to locate because their habitat is difficult to survey and they nest in dense emergent vegetation. Breeding evidence for the Common Moorhen was found in only one block during the seven-year Atlas Project.
An individual in breeding habitat sighted at the Ted Shanks Conservation Area in Pike County may have nested undetected and the species may have been present but undetected in other marshlands.
Reported in 1 (<1%) of 1,207 blocks
| Blocks | % of Blocks | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Possible | 1 | 100% |
Home|Lists of Illustrations and Tables|Preface|Acknowledgments|Introduction|The Natural Divisions of Missouri|Guide to Species Accounts|Index of Bird Accounts|Appendix A.|Appendix B.|Appendix C.|Appendix D.|Appendix E.|Literature Cited
Document ID: --Copyright ©2008 Conservation Commission of Missouri. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Use
