Purple Swamphen

Purple Swamphen
P. p. poliocephalus
Scientific Classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Gruiformes Family: Rallidae Genus: Porphyrio Species: porphyrio
Binomial name
Porphyrio porphyrio

The Purple Swamphen, Purple Gallinule or Pukeko, Porphyrio porphyrio, is a large bird in the family Rallidae.

Their breeding habitat is warm reedbeds across southernmost Europe, Africa, tropical Asia, and Australasia. There are four subspecies, differing in the plumage colours. The races are; P. p. porhyrio in Europe, P. p. madagascariensis in Africa, P. p. poliocephalus, in tropical Asia and Australasia, and P. p. pulverulentis in the Philippines .

There is a similar but much smaller species in North America, the American Purple Gallinule, Porphyrio martinica.

This chicken-sized bird, with its huge feet, bright plumage and red bill is unmistakeable. It clambers through the reeds, eating the tender shoots.

This species has a very loud explosive call. It will fly short distances with dangling legs.

Referenced By