From Opus

Photo by Van Ellus
St. Lucia Wetlands, South Africa

Gallinula angulata

[edit] Identification

Length 22-27 cm; mass 92-164 g. Smaller than Common Moorhen; The bill is mostly yellow (red with yellow tip in Common Moorhen) and the white flank feathers are less conspicuous than in Common Moorhen.

[edit] Distribution

Sub-Saharan Africa.

[edit] Taxonomy

A monotypic species.

[edit] Habitat

Aquatic habitats; favours wetlands with dense emergent grasses, such as flooded grassland.

[edit] Behaviour

Shy; usually heard rather than seen.

[edit] Vocalisation

A hollow do do do do do do.

[edit] Breeding

Monogamous and territorial. The nest is built on a platform of live grass and sedges; it is a grass cup, usually about 150 mm above the water surface. Four to nine eggs are incubated for 19-20 days by the female.

[edit] References

1. Hockey, PAR, WRJ Dean, and PG Ryan, eds. 2005. Roberts' Birds of Southern Africa. 7th ed. Cape Town: John Voelcker Bird Book Fund. ISBN 978-0620340533
2. Sinclair, I and P Ryan. 2003. Birds of Africa South of the Sahara. Princeton: Princeton Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0691118154

• List of references

[edit] External Links