Woodpecker with yellow feet?

[scarletclarinet]

Hey,

I'm really new to looking at birds, and noticed on my campus (Canterbury) a completely black bird with just a thin white line on each wing, a thick red line over the front of the head and big yellow legs. I tried looking in my bird book and it looks like a woodpecker of sorts, but all the ones in my book and online have more complex colouring and black legs.

It sounds a silly question but the reason I noticed this bird was its legs and funny way of walking, so I'm wondering if it's just a variation on the woodpecker?

Thanks for any help!

[BrianCambs]

Sounds like a moorhen - the red on the head is fleshy rather than feathered, and the feet have very long toes. They often bob while walking, rather like a chicken. There are also white feathers under the tail, if you see one walking away from you.
Although they are water birds, and usually nest in vegetation near ponds and ditches, they also forage in meadows and on lawns, sometimes in large numbers.
Cheers
Brian

[Jason Green]

Hi SC, and welcome to WAB!

BrianCamb's suggestion sounds perfect for the description. Any chance of a photo for confirmation - I take it you've seen it on water or grass adjescent to ponds?

Take care,

Jason

[Jason Claxton]

Did you see it in good light and up close a Green Woodpecker often feeds on the ground and may appear more brown maybe in bad light at a distance,it has the red on the head that you have suggested,it is larger also than the other woodpeckers.Welcome to WAB Scarletclarinet.