The Common Moorhen is often confused with the similar appearing American Coot. The moorhen is best told from the coot by its bright red bill, somewhat smaller and slimmer size, and a white stripe along the side of its body. Like coots, moorhens inhabit wetlands with thick stands of emergent vegetation. Because of its habit of spending much of its time hidden in cattails and other vegetation, it is often missed. They have never been particularly common in Iowa, but in the past several decades they seem to be rarer than in the past. Other than loss of habitat, we really are not sure why this has happened. At least in Iowa, there still appears to be ample habitat that is suitable for moorhens that is not occupied by them.
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indicates a designated IBA.