Purple Swamphen

What a day as we fought each other for the 300mm lens at the Mt. Barker Wetlands, correct name Laratinga Wetlands. We have been talking about making this visit for some time, and today was the day. This area is noted for having over 140 different bird sightings.

Mt. Barker is the town where I grew up and back then I hardly knew one bird from another as I was more interested in the other type of bird!

The Purple Swamphen (Porphyrio porphyrio) is a large rail. It is mainly dusky in the upper part, with a broad dark blue collar, and dark blue to purple below. In this case today the lower part was an incredibly intense dark blue.

As the Purple Swamphen walks, it flicks its tail up and down, revealing its white undertail. The bill is red and robust, and the legs and feet orange-red with long toes. For such a bulky bird, the Swamphen is an accomplished flier and will readily take to the air if they sense danger.

Deeper blue.

Purple Swamphens are proficient swimmers, but prefer to wander on the edges of the water, among reeds and on floating vegetation.
Their average size is 46cm.

Purple Swamphens are common throughout south eastern and northern Australia. Birds have transported themselves from Australia to New Guinea and New Zealand and throughout the islands of the south-west Pacific. It has been suggested that the New Zealand population of Purple Swamphens (locally called the Pukeko) originated in Australia.