Can coots and moorhens fly? (1 Viewer)

[James Day]

Whilst watching Bill Oddie this evening I was reminded of a question that I really don't have a clue about. Can coots/moorhens fly? On Bill's program we saw a young moorhen "falling with style" (as Woody said to Buzz) whilst flapping its wings like mad. I have also seen Moorhens at Arundel WWT climb fences, very bizarre sight, and again "fall with style". But do they ever actually fly from A to B as other "regular" birds do?

 

[Jurij Hanžel]

Yep, they sure do.

 

[Gill Osborne]

I once read that Moorhens do most of their flying at night which is when they do their 'prospecting' for new sites.

Neil should be VERY pleased with the amount of coverage of Moorhens on tonights programme - just as well we tape it and he can watch it tomorrow!

Gill

 

[James Day]

Very interesting about the night flying. Any idea what their range is?

 

[Gill Osborne]

Haven't a clue....I think I need to do a bit more digging on the net.

There don't seem to be many - if any!!! - books about Moorhens on the market. Did read about one in British Birds which was being published a year or two ago - only drawback was that it was printed in German!!! :-C

Suppose I COULD have still got Neil a copy for Christmas.....along with a course of lessons in speaking German! 3

Gill

 

[Gill Osborne]

Interesting link here mostly about Moorhens.....


http://www.moorhen.demon.co.uk/index.htm


Gill

 

[Nick Smith]

Interesting link here mostly about Moorhens.....

I have said for years, Coots can't fly. I know someone who saw a flock come in to a res once, but i can't believe it. They can fly as far as a pheasant!

 

[Edward]

Well I've seen both as vagrants in Iceland and it's a hell of a swim.

E

 

[Tannin]

Not sure about moorhens, but Coots turn up in Central Australia after it rains, and it's a hell of a walk!

 

[Brian Stone]

You can see Coot in flight reasonably often. Moorhen sometimes call when flying at night. It's a wierd noise but difficult to describe - a sort of hard, croaky three note reck-reck-reck.

 

[pstraughan]

Can Coots and Morrhens Fly?

I have Moorhens which live in my garden all year round. We get as many as 15 in Winter. Not only can the fly, they often roost or take refuge in quite tall trees e.g. 20 feet or more above ground. Sometimes they roost like this communally. I have not seen them fly long distances - maybe 50 yards or so, usually if startled.

Pat

 

[Leif]

Whilst watching Bill Oddie this evening I was reminded of a question that I really don't have a clue about. Can coots/moorhens fly? On Bill's program we saw a young moorhen "falling with style" (as Woody said to Buzz) whilst flapping its wings like mad. I have also seen Moorhens at Arundel WWT climb fences, very bizarre sight, and again "fall with style". But do they ever actually fly from A to B as other "regular" birds do?

I've seen Moorhens fly more than 100m in daylight. The flight was laboured with furious beating of the wings, and only a few feet above water level. It might be that they were starled hence the furiousness of the wingbeats.

Leif

 

[Bluetail]

Our Moorhens are relatively sedentary, rarely moving more than 20km, but the Russian and northern Scandinavian populations are migratory. One bird ringed in Saxony, East Germany, one September was recovered 1,520km away in Spain 5 days later.

Coot is rather similar: they are mainly migratory in the north and, especially, in eastern Europe. It is thought that the British population is mainly resident, though there are recoveries across the Channel from West Germany to France.

 

[saluki]

Coots migrate into Britain from the continent in winter, so they can fly considerable distances. Coot shoots were common practice at one time - the most famous one was at Hickling Broad, often attended by royalty. Apparently they were a testing target, though I can't see it myself as they fly at a constant speed and have the manouverability of jumbo jet.

Gilbert White pondered on the ability of Water Rails to fly any distance in 'A Natural History of Selbourne'. I can't remember exactly what happened, seem to remember he caught a few rails, took them some distance from their home and released them. They were back home within a day or so - perhaps someone who has read the book recently will have a better recall of the incident.

saluki

 

[Leif]

Our Moorhens are relatively sedentary, rarely moving more than 20km, but the Russian and northern Scandinavian populations are migratory. One bird ringed in Saxony, East Germany, one September was recovered 1,520km away in Spain 5 days later.

Coot is rather similar: they are mainly migratory in the north and, especially, in eastern Europe. It is thought that the British population is mainly resident, though there are recoveries across the Channel from West Germany to France.

I wonder if bird's wings become weak if they are not used properly for an extended time period? It does seem to me that UK Moorhens are loathe to fly. I ask as I know that people who are bed ridden for several months find that their legs lose strength. Leif

 

[James Lowther]

The rail family is well known for evolution of flightless species however, takahe, inaccessible island rail (access a bit difficult for that species apparently) etc.

 

[Tim Hall]

Or Weka, (aka Picnic Chickens), which will forage around your feet for scraps in New Zealand.

 

[Hanno]

Can't remember in which guide I read this (Sibleys???), but it stated something along the line that Coots look very cumbersome on take-off but, once in the air, they are quite good fliers (hasn't European Coot been a vagrant to the States?).

 

[Tim Hall]

And, of course, American Coot in Britain.....

 

[James Day]

And, of course, American Coot in Britain.....

crikey! sounds like the coots and moorhens in the SE England are a lazy bunch compared to their national and international relatives. I wonder if evolution will develope a flying and non-flying species in time? or if it already has?? I suspect this is a whole new thread in another forum!