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Lesser Moorhen
Gallinula angulata
Afrikaans name: Kleinwaterhoender
A small bird with a measuring length of 22 - 23 cm.
It looks rather similar to the Common Moorhen, but the bill is nearly all yellow.Only the culmen and frontal shield is red.The shield is pointed behind ( where in the Common Moorhen it is round)

Immature: Above dark brown, more russet on the crown and hindneck and
the upperwing coverts edges are buff.
Below light brown with paler greyish in the centre.
The cheeks and throat are white, and the frontal shield is orange-red.

Chick: downy black, white bill, cutting edges and base black, small orange frontal shield.

Status: Uncommon to locally common breeding migrant from tropical Africa, Oct - May, but mainly December - April.

Habitat: Vleis, seasonally flooded grasslands, reedbeds & waterside vegetation.

Habits: A solitary and secretive wader, seldom venturing into the open.

Food: Seed, reed flowers, insects and molluscs.






Seen at Leeupan;

I have been to Leeupan 3 times during the last week, and there are so many Lesser Moorhens - with chicks!

This Lesser Moorhen seen at Borakalalo on the 11 Oct 09.

We had great views of Lesser Moorhen from the bridge at Kgomo-Kgomo this morning. He was moving back and forth carrying food to a nest in the dense grass, but unfortunately not visible for us to see. Other nice sightings for the morning was African Crake in the road and a huge flock of Black-winged Pratincoles.

Lesser Moorhen

Lizet, well captured....Really like this shot!

Seen in the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park on 3 Jan this year - near Ljiersdraai.