The Eastern Swamphen

Invertebrates and slugs and such they eat The water birds with big and ugly feet You know them by their wild and distinct cry And their legs are always dangling as they fly. Related to but larger than moorhen And with coots, rails and crakes they too share common kin In or near water they are known to stay And from lake or pond they won't be far away. Midst water reeds they build their nests of reeds and grass No work of art just an untidy mass And three up to five eggs the female lay With brown spots through the lightish buff to gray. With purple under black and red on face And flicking tails familiar to their race Birds when once seen you never could mistake They roost in ponds or reedy swamp or lake. If danger threaten to water they retreat The water birds with big and ugly feet And you know them by their wild and distinct cry And their legs are always dangling as they fly.