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Australasian Swamphen (with chick)
Porphyrio melanotus
-27.4853, 152.753
Field Notes
Description:
Once considered a subspecies of the Purple Swamphen (Porphyrio porphyrio melanotus) in Australia, but now recognised as a separate species, the Australasian Swamphen (Porphyrio melanotus). Also found in New Zealand, where it is known as the Pukeko. It is a member of the rail family Rallidae. This bird has striking purple plumage and a scarlet bill and head shield. Frequent flicking of the tail reveals a white undertail. They love to pluck at reeds and rushes to feed on their white stem bases and roots, but also feed on small animals such as snails and frogs, and have been known to steal eggs and eat the young of other water fowl. They are proficient swimmers, but prefer to wander on the edges of the water, among reeds and on floating vegetation. It's a handsome bird and one of my favourite waterbird species.
Habitat:
Usually spotted around freshwater lakes, swamps, streams and marshes. This spotting was at the marshy lakes edge of Lake Manchester, a freshwater reservoir west of Brisbane. It is located in Brisbane Forest Park, an area of dense native bushland and subtropical rainforest.
Notes:
This adult and chick kept a respectable distance, although not so shy as to fly away. Evidence of birdwatchers, so they were reasonably relaxed. Also well away from any picnic and day use areas, so these birds weren't boldly begging for handouts. They kept to the edge of the sedge grass and reeds, but this made them a challenge to photograph as there was so much foliage in the foreground of each shot and they were constantly moving (being cautious of me, no doubt), hence it was difficult to focus.
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