Common Moorhens have blackish brown upperparts and grey-black underparts, with a white line along the flanks and a white undertail, yellow legs and a red facial shield, which is absent in immature birds.

They prefers wetlands, such as marshes and swamps, and feed on land, as well as in or above the water, i.e. floating or while walking on floating plants, such as water hyacinths and the leaves of water lilies.