Rails, Gallinules and Coots (Rallidae)
Purple Swamphen (Porphyrio porphyrio) - HBW 3, p. 197
French: Talève sultane
German: Purpurhuhn
Spanish: Calamón Común
Other common names: Purple Gallinule(!)
Taxonomy: Fulica Porphyrio Linnaeus, 1758, Asia, America (= lands bordering the western Mediterranean Sea).
Races madagascariensis, pulverulentus and poliocephalus (incorporating all remaining races except nominate) have at times been considered separate species; melanotus and bellus too might be separate species. Numerous other races described. Thirteen subspecies recognized.
Subspecies and Distribution:
- porphyrio (Linnaeus, 1758) - E & S Spain, S France and Sardinia to Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia.
- madagascariensis (Latham, 1801) - Egypt, sub-Saharan Africa and Madagascar.
- caspius Hartert, 1917 - Caspian Sea, NW Iran and Turkey.
- porphyrio (Linnaeus, 1758) - E & S Spain, S France and Sardinia to Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia.
- madagascariensis (Latham, 1801) - Egypt, sub-Saharan Africa and Madagascar.
- caspius Hartert, 1917 - Caspian Sea, NW Iran and Turkey.
- seistanicus Zarudny & Härms, 1911 - Iraq and S Iran to Afghanistan, Pakistan and NW India.
- poliocephalus (Latham, 1801) - India and Sri Lanka through Bangladesh, Andamans, Nicobars and N Myanmar to SC China (Yunnan) and N Thailand.
- viridis Begbie, 1834 - S Myanmar, S Thailand and Peninsular Malaysia through Indochina to S China.
- indicus Horsfield, 1821 - Greater Sundas to Bali and Sulawesi.
- pulverulentus Temminck, 1826 - Philippines.
- pelewensis Hartlaub & Finsch, 1872 - Palau Is.
- melanopterus Bonaparte, 1856 - Moluccas and Lesser Sundas to New Guinea.
- bellus Gould, 1841 - SW Australia.
- melanotus Temminck, 1820 - N & E Australia and Tasmania to New Zealand, Kermadec Is and Chatham Is; migrates to New Guinea.
- samoensis Peale, 1848 - Admiralty Is S to New Caledonia and E to Samoa.
- Least Concern Enlarge map
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Juveniles preening, foraging and being fed by an adult. Locality Jerrabomberra Wetlands, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
Stephen Wallace 19 November 2011 1 year ago 1 min 26 sec 4.8 -
A bird feeding on reedmace roots Locality Sariñena, Huesca, Aragón, Spain (ssp porphyrio)
Jesús Laborda 15 February 2008 5 years ago 43 sec 4.8 -
A bird calling and then taking a stem Locality Moonstone Walk, Bundoora, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia (ssp melanotus)
Matt Weeks 13 November 2004 6 years ago 20 sec 4.8 -
Two chicks feeding on grass Locality Jerrabomberra Wetlands, Australian Capital Territory, Australia (ssp melanotus)
Nick Talbot 29 November 2006 6 years ago 12 sec 4.7 -
An adult bird feeding two young birds. Locality Royal National Park, New South Wales, Australia (ssp melanotus)
Josep del Hoyo 17 October 2009 2 years ago 22 sec 4.7 -
A group in a marsh Locality Bharatpur, Rajasthan, India (ssp poliocephalus)
Jean Hupperetz 31 October 2004 7 years ago 27 sec 4.7
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African Purple Swamphen (Porphyrio madagascariensis) wading through water
Locality Standerton, Mpumalanga Province, South Africa (ssp madagascariensis)
SC Hendriks 15 August 2009 2 weeks ago ADDED LAST MONTH 4.4 -
An adult feeding on freshwater mussel.
Locality Kizilirmak Delta, Samsun Province, Turkey (ssp caspius)
ahmet karataş 15 June 2011 1 year ago 4.4 -
African Purple Swamphen (Porphyrio madagascariensis) resting
Locality Standerton, Mpumalanga Province, South Africa (ssp madagascariensis)
SC Hendriks 15 February 2011 2 weeks ago ADDED LAST MONTH 4.4 -
Adult climbing on some dry branches on the edge of the Murray River
Locality Murray Bridge, South Australia, Australia
Peter Strauss 1 December 2012 24 weeks ago 4.3 -
Adult
Locality The Gambia (ssp madagascariensis)
Paul Cools 5 July 2012 29 weeks ago 4.3 -
This bird is carrying reeds to build a nest.
Locality Tomato Lake, Kewdale, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
Nicholas Tomney 4 January 2013 18 weeks ago 4.3
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Click to play
Two juvenile birds making contact calls as they move through dense vegetation in a wetland. Locality Royal Park, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
(ssp melanotus)
Nick Talbot 30 December 2011 1 year ago 4 -
Calls of one bird. Locality Kratie Marsh, Kratié Province, Cambodia
(ssp viridis)
Josep del Hoyo 11 March 2011 1 year ago 4 -
Several birds calling. Locality Ang Trapeang Thmor, Banteay Meanchey Province, Cambodia
(ssp viridis)
Josep del Hoyo 3 March 2011 2 years ago 4 -
Loud hissing calls while feeding Locality Keoladeo National Park, Bharatpur, Rajasthan, India
(ssp poliocephalus)
RAM GOPAL SONI 1 July 2003 3 years ago 4 -
Calling while feeding mixed calls Locality Keoladeo National Park, Bharatpur, Rajasthan, India
(ssp poliocephalus)
RAM GOPAL SONI 1 July 2003 3 years ago 4 -
Bird giving various loud calls while feeding in reeds Locality Keoladeo National Park, Bharatpur, Rajasthan, India
(ssp poliocephalus )
RAM GOPAL SONI 1 July 1983 3 years ago 4
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