Abstract

• In the study period from January 2019 to December 2019, five behavioral activities of Common Moorhen were studied under four different diurnal periods. Concerning different diurnal periods, the relative percentage of time spent on locomotion and foraging was highest in the early morning. Grooming and reproductive behavior were highest in the late morning. The relative percentage of time spent resting behavior was highest in the mid-day. The time spent on locomotion varied among four different diurnal periods (P<0.05). Grooming activity differed among four different diurnal periods (P<0.05). Diurnal time spent on foraging activity varied among four different diurnal periods (P<0.05). No significant differences were found in resting activity in the time blocks of the day (P>0.05). Reproduction activity was not varied in the time blocks of the day (P>0.05). Throughout the study period, the dominant behavior was foraging and the contrary was reproduction. The next to foraging was locomotion and grooming because after the feeding peak in a place they usually change feeding place to search for more foods which increases their movement. Moving peak at next hour of foraging and feeding peak could be the reason for this. The minimum activity throughout the study period was reproductive behavior. Although Common moorhen breed all year, it breeds three broods in one year during the study period were recorded. Thus reproductive behavior among the behavioral activities was minimized. Among five behavioral activities of Common Moorhen throughout the study period was varied (P<0.05).