Gallinula chloropus, commonly known as the Common Moorhen or Common Gallinule, is native to a wide geographical range. This species is found across much of Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Americas. In Europe and Asia, its range extends from the British Isles and western Europe eastward to central Siberia and the Indian subcontinent. In Africa, it is widespread across the continent, and in the Americas, it ranges from southern Canada down through the United States to Central and South America.

The Common Moorhen typically inhabits freshwater wetlands such as ponds, lakes, swamps, marshes, and rivers. It prefers areas with dense emergent vegetation like reeds and cattails where it can find cover and forage for food. The species is adaptable to various climatic conditions, found in both temperate and tropical regions.

Gallinula chloropus occupies a niche as a waterbird feeding primarily on a mixed diet of aquatic vegetation, seeds, insects, and other small invertebrates. This omnivorous feeding strategy allows it to thrive in a variety of wetland environments. The bird often forages at the water's edge or among the aquatic vegetation, using its strong, long toes to walk on floating plants. It plays an important role in the ecosystem by contributing to the control of insect populations and the dispersal of plant seeds.