From Opus

Photo by Fernando
Coto Donana National Park, Spain, January 2007

Porphyrio alleni

[edit] Identification

Black body, brownish neck, red legs and bill.

[edit] Distribution

Sub-Saharan Africa, Madagascar, and the Comoro Islands.

[edit] Vagrancy

Vagrants have been recorded from as far as Spain.

[edit] Taxonomy

A monotypic species.

[edit] Habitat

Found in dense vegetation around lake margins, papyrus swamps and lily ponds.

[edit] Behaviour

This is a very shy bird which is adept at swimming and diving, it is also often seen climbing through the vegetation.

[edit] Breeding

It builds a floating nest in marshes and swamps, laying 2-5 eggs.

[edit] Diet

The diet includes insects and aquatic animals.

[edit] External Links