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Wednesday, 16 December 2020

Wild Bird Wednesday 438 - Dusky Moorhens

The Dusky Moorhen (Gallinula tenebrosa) is a familiar bird in most wetlands in south east Australia.  It looks a lot like that (Common) Moorhen I used to see in the UK, but the Australian species lacks a distinct white stripe on its flanks.

These dark birds were feeding young in dark mud in an area with bright sunshine, so it was a bit of a challenge.  It seems that these birds may not actually be the biological parents of these chicks, as this species is know to used collaborative breeding groups.  (In fact I think this approach is more common in Australian birds than in any other region of the world.)






I have (finally) been able to organise some time away this week - and I'm looking forward to some time by the sea.  What a year!

As ever, stay safe and join in with WBW:  click the blue button and off you go!  SM

 

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15 comments:

  1. italiafinlandia16 December 2020 at 01:41

    Hello Stewart,
    nice pictures, as usual.
    Hope all is fine with you.
    All the best!

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  2. Yamini MacLean16 December 2020 at 03:05

    Hari Om
    I love all of these, Stewart - but if forced, I'd settle for the second last! YAM xx

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  3. Margaret Birding For Pleasure16 December 2020 at 03:25

    Yes similar to our UK Moorhen. I prefer the Moorhen chicks to the Coot chicks Thanks for hosting, stay safe and have a good week ahead

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  4. This N That16 December 2020 at 04:43

    Kind of like wet nurses?? Fun pictures..Enjoy the rest of your week..

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  5. Brian King16 December 2020 at 04:53

    Beautiful photos! Love the little ones!

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  6. Kenneth Cole Schneider16 December 2020 at 06:16

    Interesting information about their communal breeding, I had not heard about this occurring in our US gallinules (I still want to say "Moorhens"). It must confer an advantage as their population is flourishing.

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  7. David M. Gascoigne,16 December 2020 at 06:18

    Great series of images, Stewart. Family groups are always appealing.

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  8. Florida Farm Girl16 December 2020 at 08:17

    I am so happy to hear that you can be out and about now. It's been a long haul for sure and I'm anxiously awaiting the time for us to be able to do the same safely. Aren't the little ones wonderful?

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  9. Sallie (FullTime-Life)16 December 2020 at 15:43

    It takes a village to raise a moorhen! (Moorchick?.?). I never thought about that before, but how can the babies be called hens? )). By any name, they are cute little fuzz balls. The adults look very much like the ones I’ve seen here, but I’m not sure if ours have the white or not. Thanks for the virtual birding, that’s about the only kind I get these days.

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  10. Caroline 17 December 2020 at 01:16

    Beautiful Stewart the moorhens, the little one are so cute. Greetings Caroline

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  11. Rhodesia17 December 2020 at 01:19

    Great photos with interesting info. Wish we coud go away for a bit but it is not going to happen. We now have curfew from 20h00 until 06h00 until the middle of January!! Sorry no blog, no time and computer very slow! Take care Diane

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  12. Lea17 December 2020 at 01:49

    Love seeing those little chicks!
    Have a wonderful day!

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  13. waldlaeufer68 Frank Scholtyssek17 December 2020 at 07:26

    Hello Stewart
    everything fits here, light, sharpness and motifs are of the finest quality
    in the right place at the right time
    stay healthy
    Greetings Frank

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  14. Linda17 December 2020 at 16:45

    Aww, the little ones are cute!

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