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These are small to medium marsh birds. They fly very litttle, or not at all. They eaat all kinds of plant and animal matter found in the marshes. Their nests are on the ground or floating on water in the reeds. The Moorhen is about 30 cms, about the size of a partridge. It is slaty grey and the base of the beak and forehead has a red shield. It has a white patch under the tail. It has enormous green feet and long green legs. It keeps flicking up its tail, even when it swims. The Purple Moorhen is a rather lovely bird. It is purplish-blue and has a red beak shield and red forehead. It has red legs and it is the size of a village hen. During courtship, the male holds reeds in his beak and bows to the female and makes chucling sounds! Moorhens have raft like nests made of reeds and these float on marsh debris or on reeds. The Coot is the size of a village hen. It is grey-black and looks like a duck while swimming. It has a white beak and frontal shield. It eats grass and paddy shoots and snails. The White-breasted Waterhen is like the moorhen, but it has a white face and shirt front. It also has a red patch under its tail that shows when it bobs. It eats insects, worms, grain abd paddy shoots.
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