Purple Swamphen

Updated description June 04, 2018. 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.