Averaging 14 inches long, the Gallinule (Moorhen) is a member of the rail family- distinguished by its red shield and yellow-tipped red bill.
Moorhens like freshwater marshes, ponds, and lakes; they swim with a pumping back-and-forth motion of their head and neck.
Moorhens are noisy birds;they grunt, cluck, squeak, and whine, and often get into disputes over food, mates, or nesting areas.

This bird is similar to the American Coot, which has a white bill, slate gray back, and no white band under its tail.