Moorhen with yellow beak, London WWT (4 Viewers)

[stevethehydra]

I saw a Moorhen with an all-yellow bill at the LWT in about 2009 or 2010. Not sure how long-lived Moorhens are so I don't know if it was the same individual as either the OP from 2007 or the new bird, but presumably there is an aberrant gene in the local population. Nothing to indicate hybridisation with Coot (which has been recorded, but very rarely considering the abundance of both species) - it was identical to the normal-billed Moorhen next to it apart from lacking red on the bill.

 

[stevethehydra]

Googled and found this from early 2017: https://twitter.com/dfentonscott/status/845908520058966016

and this from 2013 with mention of another sighting in 2005: http://regua.org/blog/2013/04/aberrant-moorhen/

 

[Nutcracker]

Two yellow-billed Moorhens still at WWT Barnes:

https://twitter.com/dunnock67/status/1069201926590468097

 

[ChrispyMonkey]

I spotted a moorhen with an entirely yellow beak today whilst at the London Wetland Centre
in Barnes. Discovering these posts from 2007 (as a top hit on Google for ‘moorhen with yellow beak’) feels quite incredible.

 

[Alexander Stöhr]

Hello Chris,

welcome to birdforum!

Yes, (old) threads from BF are regular ranked high by googles algorithms. As you soon will find out, many friendly, helpful and expert members here, writing excellent comments, that are helpful even after years (and deserve a big thank you once more). Therefore I agree with google (algorithm), an example of good AI in this case

 

[gkamov]

We saw a Moorhen like that at the WWT London Wetland Centre today

 

[Rotherbirder]

If you check, I think you'll find it's 'xanthochroism'; 'xanthochromism' means something totally different!

RB

 

[KC Foggin]

I'm going with Moorhen.

 

[Kits]

We saw a Moorhen like that at the WWT London Wetland Centre today

That’s an interesting capture of your unusual find.