Lesser Moorhen

Lesser Moorhen

Gallinula angulata

Silhouette: Andy Wilson · PhyloPic

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
at Etosha National Park
11 Verified sightings at Etosha National Park From 2019 to 2026
427 Verified sightings across all 29 parks From 2019 to 2026
December Best month highest sighting rate
☀️ Diurnal When it's spotted during daytime hours (6am–6pm)

About the Lesser Moorhen

The lesser moorhen (Paragallinula angulata) is a species of bird in the family Rallidae. It is sometimes placed into the genus Gallinula. It is the only member of the genus Paragallinula. The lesser moorhen was formerly placed in the genus Gallinula, but a 2015 molecular genetic study demonstrated that Gallinula was composed of four distinct lineages. The genus was split into four genera: Gallinula (sensu stricto), Paragallinula, Porphyriops, and Tribonyx.

P. angulata is the only known species of Paragallinula which makes Paragallinula a monotypic genus. The name Paragallinula comes from the Greek para 'beside' and the genus Gallinula. It is named for its similarity with the members of Gallinula, but it also indicates its unique genetic lineage.

The lesser moorhen is widely spread across Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding Southern Africa and Madagascar). It was once recorded in the Western Palearctic as a rare vagrant. This species has also been sighted in Brazil, Egypt, Morocco, and Oman.

Lesser moorhen - Species text in The Atlas of Southern African Birds Wikipedia →

Closest Relatives at Etosha National Park

Common Moorhen
LC

Common Moorhen

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Gallinula chloropus

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck
Black Crake

Black Crake

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Amaurornis flavirostra

Daily sighting probability ~20% · Possible
Red-knobbed Coot
LC

Red-knobbed Coot

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Fulica cristata

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
African Rail
LC

African Rail

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Rallus caerulescens

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
Allen's Gallinule
LC

Allen's Gallinule

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Porphyrio alleni

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
Western Swamphen
LC

Western Swamphen

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Porphyrio porphyrio

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data
African Crake
LC

African Crake

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Crex egregia

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data
Blue Crane
VU

Blue Crane

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Anthropoides paradiseus

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck
Wattled Crane
VU

Wattled Crane

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Bugeranus carunculatus

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

Global Distribution

Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Daily sighting probability
1 Hwange National Park 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe
~10%
2 Ruaha National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
<5%
3 iSimangaliso Wetland Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
<5%
4 Amboseli National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
<5%
5 Arusha National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
<5%
6 Tarangire National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
<5%
7 Nairobi National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
<5%
8 Lake Nakuru National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
<5%
9 Lake Mburo National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
<5%
10 Murchison Falls National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
<5%
11 Moremi Game Reserve 🇧🇼 Botswana
<5%
12 Ngorongoro Conservation Area 🇹🇿 Tanzania
<5%
13 Etosha National Park 🇳🇦 Namibia
<5%
14 Kruger National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
<5%
15 Tsavo East National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
<5%
16 Chobe National Park 🇧🇼 Botswana
<5%
17 Serengeti National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
<5%
18 Virunga National Park 🇨🇩 Democratic Republic of the Congo
<5%
19 Lake Manyara National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
Insufficient data
20 Pilanesberg National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
Insufficient data
21 Kafue National Park 🇿🇲 Zambia
Insufficient data
22 Lower Zambezi National Park 🇿🇲 Zambia
Insufficient data
23 Volcanoes National Park 🇷🇼 Rwanda
Insufficient data
24 Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
Insufficient data
25 South Luangwa National Park 🇿🇲 Zambia
Insufficient data
26 Kidepo Valley National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
Insufficient data
27 Semuliki National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
Insufficient data
28 Masai Mara National Reserve 🇰🇪 Kenya
Insufficient data
29 Queen Elizabeth National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
Insufficient data

Quick answers

What are the chances of seeing a Lesser Moorhen in Etosha National Park?

Under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Lesser Moorhen sighting in Etosha National Park, based on 11 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.

When is the best time to see Lesser Moorhen in Etosha National Park?

December has the highest sighting rate for Lesser Moorhen in Etosha National Park in our monthly data.

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