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Common Gallinule, the lost Moorhen

10,000 Birds

The Common Gallinule , is the most wide spread of all the members of the rail family, being found from Canada, to Chile, Europe, Asia, Africa, much of the Pacific, and the Galapagos Islands. These birds have been known to be prolific breeders, with as many as 8 broods a year, and each clutch holding from 5-13 eggs.

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Birding Shanghai in October 2022

10,000 Birds

Of course, it is hard to resist looking at a paper titled “Host personality predicts cuckoo egg rejection in Daurian redstarts” Basically, the personality of a female redstart (bold or shy) predicts the responses to parasitic eggs – bold hosts are more likely to reject parasitic eggs.

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Birding Sepilok, Borneo (Part 1)

10,000 Birds

If the male’s color fades after the first egg, the female reacts by laying a smaller second egg – seemingly deciding that it is better to cut her losses as the male apparently is the avian equivalent of a deadbeat father. And it also comes as a video and yet another video. And now for something completely different.