Moorhen Stock Photography

Moorhens—sometimes called marsh hens—are medium-sized water birds that are members of the rail family. Most species are placed in the genus Gallinula, Latin for `little hen`. They are close relatives of coots. They are often referred to as gallinules. Recently, one of the species of Gallinula was found to have enough differences to form a new genus Paragallinula with the only species being the lesser moorhen.