Common Moorhen

(Gallinula chloropus)

Category of conservation concern (IUCN, 2020) – Least Concern

Population size: 5 000-12 000 pairs

Distribution pattern

With uneven patchy distribution in the plains and lowlands of the whole country, most widespread along the Danube River and in the Danubian plain, in the Thracian Plain, along the Black Sea coast, and the valleys of the larger rivers. At some areas also in the lower parts of the mountains in predominantly wooded (Strandzha) or dry stony (Eastern Rhodopes) areas, where it breeds in small wetlands with marsh vegetation.

Comparative distribution of the species compared to the first breeding birds atlas (Iankov, 2007): Breeding locality until 2007 | Breeding locality until 2007, confirmed after 2015 – | New breeding locality after 2015. – The breeding localities after 2015 are identified on a base of raw data from smartbirds.org.

Habitats

Breeds in water fringe vegetation in wetlands with water bodies of different nature and size – bogs and marshes, standing fresh waters, such as fishponds, micro-dams, wetlands in former river beds, small marshy water bodies in towns, villages, industrial sites and in public parks and large gardens. Often also, near running waters – canals, riverbanks, sometimes in coastal lagoons, standing brackish waters, etc. Occupies also wetlands entirely covered by vegetation without open waters, less often in marshes.

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Trends in population changes for the period 2013-2020

Not analysed

Threats

Not analysed