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Purple Swamphen
peterday

Purple Swamphen (Porphyrio melanotus)

I remember as a young man looking at these in my Birds of Britain and Europe bird guide and thinking how exotic they were. Here we see them so often they can be overlooked!
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Habitat
Wetlands
Location
Laratinga Wetlands, Mt Barker, Adelaide
Date taken
18/07/2015
Scientific name
Porphyrio melanotus
Equipment used
Canon EOS 70D with Canon EF 300mm f2.8L IS II USM + 2.0 extender 111
carann
Superb detail and colour in this fabulous image, Peter !!! Thanks for sharing.
 
delia todd
Staff member
Opus Editor
Supporter
A cracking picture that Peter... very well done and thanks for sharing it with us.

The Purple Swamphens have now been split into six species, probably about time but a bit of a nightmare. Your one has now been named Australasian Swamphen, with a scientific name of Porphyrio melanotus, so you may now have a new tick;)

I hope you don't mind me changing the details on your picture.
 
peterday
Opus Editor
Supporter
Thanks, Delia - I didn't realise. I've seen one in Singapore which turns out to be a Black-backed Swamphen, so that's one new species! Much appreciated!
 
The Bosun
A nice capture of one of our 'commomers' Peter. TFS. Like you, I was not aware of the changes to the breed. Will have to go and update all the records. :)
 
mali
Lovely capture Pete...I had no idea these birds were included in Britain & Europe. I have never seen one here, and I don't know of anyone who has. Thanks for the info.
 
peterday
Opus Editor
Supporter
Mali, in the book by Heinzel, Fitter and Parslow it shows it occurring in S Spain and N Africa.
 

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Category
Asia, Australia & Pacific Islands
Added by
peterday
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Comment count
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