mud hen

American  

Or mudhen

noun

1. any of various marsh-inhabiting birds, especially the American coot.

---

mud hen British  

noun

1. any of various birds that frequent marshes or similar places, esp the coots, rails, etc

---

Etymology

Origin of mud hen

First recorded in 1800–10

Example Sentences

As he stood by the water, two dark birds floated on the surface — American coots, or mud hens.

From Los Angeles Times

Looking back, it is hard to imagine him shooting anything — even a mud hen in 1918.”

From Los Angeles Times

The man in the stalled motorboat was gone; the mud hens were gone.

From Literature

Among so many peacocks, I was a mud hen.

From The Guardian

Then drawing the magic hook, he baited it with the Alae or sacred mud hen belonging to his Mother Hina.

From Project Gutenberg