moorhen
8.2
A small black water bird with a red bill and long legs that lives on ponds and lakes
- noun
- /ˈmʊrˌhɛn/
:
gallineta
- One fine day in 1953, a Mr. C. Barrow was taking a stroll along a lakeshore in the English countryside when he noticed a large moorhen flying overhead.
- the common moorhen
Examples
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Nana, moorhen.
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The moorhen dived into the water to search for plants and insects.
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We spotted a moorhen near the shore, its distinctive red bill visible among the reeds.
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As we walked around the pond, a moorhen gracefully moved across the surface, leaving ripples behind.
Synonyms
waterbird
vsmoorhen
1
2.4
A bird that lives near fresh water and swims or wades
applies to one distinctive small rail species not all freshwater birds
9.9
A water bird with mainly dark feathers that lives in ponds and lakes
is the common general term for that same bird
9.9
A small water bird that lives in North America with dark blue-grey feathers
refers to the whole species across regions rather than this regional form
water hen
vsmoorhen
5.1
A small bird that lives near water like a moorhen or coot
describes a single small black rail with a red bill and long legs
Surface Forms
Morphology
Etymology
Moorhen comes from two simple English words: moor meaning 'marsh' and hen meaning 'female bird' or small bird. So a moorhen is a bird of the marsh, which helps you remember this small waterbird you see by ponds and lakes.