Purple Swamphen (Porphyrio porphyrio)
Purple Swamphen, Murramarang N.P., NSW, Australia, March 2006 - click for larger image Australia
January / March 2006

The Purple Swamphen is found in suitable habitat in Europe, Asia, Africa, India, Australia and New Zealand. With such a wide spread it is not surprising that there are 13 subspecies. There are two subspecies found in Australia: P.p. melanotus, illustrated here and P.p. bellus found in south-west Australia.

Purple Swamphen, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, January 2006 - click for larger image This rail is large and ponderous as it moves around the wetlands it inhabits. It is mainly vegetarian and it uses its bill to dig out stems, etc. which it then holds in its feet while it eats.

There is an illustration in HBW, Volume 3, Page 198
Purple Swamphen, Southport, Tasmania, Australia, February 2006 - click for larger image
Purple Swamphen, Warrnambool, Victoria, Australia, February 2006 - click for larger image
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