Moorhens (1 Viewer)

R

riverfish

Kernow bys vykken!

• Jul 17, 2005

• #1

I took this photo of what is presumably a Moorhen "family" at Slapton Ley last week.

Just wondering if there is a way to tell the male and female apart. To me, they look pretty much identical, but is there a subtle way of distinguishing them from each other?

- David.

 

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JANJ

Well-known member

• Jul 17, 2005

• #2

Yes, by measurements. Male on average have longer wings and tarsus (the leg below the knee + toes) than females, but the differences are rather small and not noticeable in the field.
JanJ

 

Last edited: Jul 17, 2005

R

riverfish

Kernow bys vykken!

• Jul 17, 2005

• #3

JANJ said:

Yes, by measurements. Male on average have longer wings and tarsus (the leg below the knee + toes) than females, but the differences are rather small and not noticeable in the field.
JanJ

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Thanks for your response JanJ.

 

Lucky Birder

Notts Birder

• Jul 17, 2005

• #4

The male bird is surely the one on the left in the picture. Not sure why, but it just looks like a male. Not as scientific as Jan's answer but...

 

JANJ

Well-known member

• Jul 17, 2005

• #5

Lucky Birder said:

The male bird is surely the one on the left in the picture. Not sure why, but it just looks like a male. Not as scientific as Jan's answer but...

Click to expand...

Interesting comment, you mean that the right bird looks submissive, or demanding?
JanJ

 

Last edited: Jul 17, 2005

Lucky Birder

Notts Birder

• Jul 17, 2005

• #6

The right hand bird does look submissive. But the left hand bird looks distinctly dominant and 'masculine'.

 

JANJ

Well-known member

• Jul 17, 2005

• #7

Lucky Birder said:

The right hand bird does look submissive. But the left hand bird looks distinctly dominant and 'masculine'.

Click to expand...

Or could it be that the "she" is barking at "him" and "he" is reluctantly submissive?
JanJ

 

R

riverfish

Kernow bys vykken!

• Jul 17, 2005

• #8

I did take the bird on the left to be the male, no real reason why though! Thought it would sound a bit of a odd comment so didn't mention it at first...

 

Last edited: Jul 17, 2005

JANJ

Well-known member

• Jul 17, 2005

• #9

It is kind of odd comments, I just found it interesting to see how we males are thinking, out loud or subconscious. So in fact, I think the right bird has a hearing problem. End of jokes?
JanJ

 

Lucky Birder

Notts Birder

• Jul 18, 2005

• #10

I never intended to say anything funny and I don't think I'm being sexist as you can't be sexist with birds.

I think this thread should be in Ruffled Feathers.

 

JANJ

Well-known member

• Jul 18, 2005

• #11

Well Lucky Birder, not intended to be an accusation at all, couldn´t just help my self, after your comment in #4, in fact I would have had the same thinking, and not consider my self as being sexistic! Thought is was a bit of fun only, and I agree that it doesn´t belong in Bird Identification Q&A. End of story.
JanJ