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Australasian (Purple) SwamphenAlternate name(s): "Purple Swamphen*", "Eastern Swamp-hen", "Bald Coot", "Purple Gallinule", "Purple Water-hen", "Black-backed Water-hen", "Macquarie-hen", "Redbill", "Purple Moorhen", "Purple Coot", "Puekeko*" ![]() Race "bellus": "kwilom", "koolema", "moolar" Size: 44-48 cm Weight: 0.7-1.3 kg |
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Similar |
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See Australasian
(Purple) Swamphen at Wikipedia ![]() |
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Photos |
Race "melanotus"
Not the photos you want? Or are you after even better quality? Have a
look here .
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ADULT |
Sex unknown |
Close-up frontal view of an adult Australasian (Purple) Swamphen
[Cattai Wetlands, Coopernook, NSW, October 2023]
Close-up frontal view of an Australasian (Purple) Swamphen
[Cattai Wetlands, Coopernook, NSW, October 2023]
Near-frontal portrait of an Australasian (Purple) Swamphen
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, April 2012]
Near-frontal view of an Australasian (Purple) Swamphen
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, November 2010]
Near-lateral view of an Australasian (Purple) Swamphen
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Botanical Garden, Melbourne, VIC, April 2022]
Close-up near-lateral view of an Australasian (Purple) Swamphen
(photo courtesy of A. Ross-Taylor)
[Carrara, Gold Coast, QLD, June 2006]
Lateral portrait of an Australasian (Purple) Swamphen
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, April 2012]
Close-up lateral view of an Australasian (Purple) Swamphen
[Dunn's Swamp,
Wollemi NP,
NSW, October 2016]
Close-up view of an Australasian (Purple) Swamphen wading through shallow water
[Rockhampton, QLD, July 2009]
Australasian (Purple) Swamphen wading through shallow water
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, March 2009]
Australasian (Purple) Swamphen in reeds
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, December 2010]
Lateral view of an Australasian (Purple) Swamphen
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, September 2008]
Close-up near-dorsal view of an Australasian (Purple) Swamphen
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Batemans Bay, NSW, April 2023]
Near-dorsal view of an Australasian (Purple) Swamphen
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, June 2011]
Preening Australasian (Purple) Swamphen
[Dunn's Swamp,
Wollemi NP,
NSW, October 2016]
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IMMATURE/JUVENILE |
This immature Australasian (Purple) Swamphen has adult
plumage, but the shield
and bill have not turned red yet
(photo courtesy of A. Ross-Taylor)
[Carrara, Gold Coast, QLD, January 2015]
Near-dorsal view of a juvenile Australasian (Purple) Swamphen
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, November 2012]
Lateral view of an Australasian (Purple) Swamphen chick on its way somewhere...
(photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Ensay South, East Gippsland, VIC, November 2015]
Australasian (Purple) Swamphen chick racing across a lawn to get
back into the cover of nearby reeds
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, April 2012]
Australasian (Purple) Swamphen with its chick
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, November 2010]
Here the Australasian (Purple) Swamphen chick is being fed
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, November 2010]
Two very young Australasian (Purple) Swamphen chicks in
plain view (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Eastlakes golf course, Sydney, NSW, October 2013]
Race "bellus"
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ADULT |
Sex unknown |
Frontal view of an Australasian (Purple) Swamphen extending its wings
(photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Lake Monger, Perth, WA, May 2021]
Close-up near-frontal view of an Australasian (Purple) Swamphen
(photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Lake Claremont, Perth, WA, January 2015]
Near-lateral view of an Australasian (Purple) Swamphen foraging on
grassland around a suburban
lake
(photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Lake Herdsman, Perth, WA, December 2014]
Near-lateral view of an Australasian (Purple) Swamphen extending its wings
(photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Lake Monger, Perth, WA, May 2021]
Close-up lateral view of an Australasian (Purple) Swamphen
(photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Lake Monger, Perth, WA, August 2022]
Close-up lateral view of an Australasian (Purple) Swamphen
(photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Lake Claremont, Perth, WA, August 2022]
Lateral view of an Australasian (Purple) Swamphen
(photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Lake Herdsman, Perth, WA, December 2014]
Lateral view of an Australasian (Purple) Swamphen
(photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Lake Herdsman, Perth, WA, December 2014]
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IMMATURE/JUVENILE |
Near-frontal view of an Australasian (Purple) Swamphen chick
(photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Lake Herdsman, Perth, WA, October 2022]
Near-lateral view of an Australasian (Purple) Swamphen with a chick
(photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Lake Claremont, Perth, WA, October 2022]
Lateral view of an Australasian (Purple) Swamphen chick
(photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Lake Herdsman, Perth, WA, October 2022]
Near-dorsal view of an Australasian (Purple) Swamphen chick
(photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Lake Herdsman, Perth, WA, October 2022]
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Breeding information |
Breeding season: All year | Eggs: 3 - 8 | Incubation period: 23 - 29 days | Fledging age: ca. 42 days |
Given the right conditions (and depending on geographical latitude), Australasian (Purple) Swamphens can breed any time of the year, often more than one brood per year.
Nest building: ? | Incubation: Female & male | Dependent care: Female & male |
Australasian (Purple) Swamphens mating - the difficult part is to get ontop...
[Mother of Ducks
Lagoon NR, Guyra, NSW, March 2012]
... the rest, once you are in balance, is easier
[Mother of Ducks
Lagoon NR, Guyra, NSW, March 2012]
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Nest |
"bungobittah", "lar", "malunna", "jindi" [bundjalung] = nest [Aboriginal] |
Type: Basket | Material: Reeds, rushes, grass stems | Height above ground: N/A |
The nest is usually well hidden in a dense clump of reeds.
Australasian (Purple) Swamphen at its nest with at least two small
chicks inside; a third is already wandering about at the lower left
(photo courtesy of A. Ross-Taylor)
[Carrara, Gold Coast, QLD, November 2014]
Close-up lateral view of an Australasian (Purple) Swamphen
breaking off pieces of paperbark for its nest
(photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Lake Herdsman, Perth, WA, September 2022]
Close-up lateral view of an Australasian (Purple) Swamphen
collecting pieces of paperbark for its nest
(photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Lake Herdsman, Perth, WA, September 2022]
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Eggs |
"boyanga", "booyanga", "derinya", "dirandil", "koomura", "mirk", "ngampu", "nooluk", "pateena", "pum-pum" = Egg; "dirundirri" = eggs [Aboriginal]; "gawu" = eggs [gamilaraay] |
Size: 52 x 35 mm | Colour: Mid-brown, with greyish dark-brown speckles | Shape: Tapered oval |
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Behaviour |
Social behaviour: Communal | Mobility: Vagrant/dispersive | Elementary unit: Flock |
Australasian (Purple) Swamphes are primarily waders. When disturbed they will either vanish into dense foliage/reeds or fly away somewhat clumsily. They are not often seen swimming.
Australasian (Purple) Swamphen paddling away from the photographer
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, December 2010]
Australasian (Purple) Swamphen trying to attract the observer's
attention and thereby lure the potentail threat away from its chicks
(photo courtesy of A. Ross-Taylor)
[Carrara, Gold Coast, QLD, November 2014]
Although often seen squabbling, Australasian (Purple) Swamphens can live together in large numbers - see photo below.
Flock of Australasian (Purple) Swamphens in reeds in shallow water
[Wetlands of Capricorn Resort, Yeppoon, QLD, July 2009; see credits page for details]
About 50 Australasian (Purple) Swamphens foraging on a sports ground
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, September 2010]
Sometimes Australasian (Purple) Swamphens need to impress the competition; then
the white patch feathers are diplayed conspicuously
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, May 2012]
Here a game of "catch me, if you can" Australasian (Purple) Swamphen-way
Australasian (Purple) Swamphen's typical tail flick - tail down
(photo courtesy of A. Ross Taylor)
[Highland Park, Gold Coast, QLD, December 2013]
Australasian (Purple) Swamphen's typical tail flick - tail up
(photo courtesy of A. Ross Taylor)
[Highland Park, Gold Coast, QLD, December 2013]
Australasian (Purple) Swamphen using its foot to hold on to
its next meal
(photo courtesy of A. Ross Taylor)
[Botanical Gardens, Gold Coast, QLD, October 2019]
This Australasian (Purple) Swamphen was observed chasing away an
Australian Raven
that was also trying to scavenge food from tourists
[Dunn's Swamp,
Wollemi NP,
NSW, October 2016]
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Food, Diet |
Australasian (Purple) Swamphens feed mostly on young shoots of reeds and other aquatic plants; they are also known to feed on grassland, e.g. in urban parks, and also small animals.
Australasian (Purple) Swamphen with part of an aquatic plant in its bill
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, April 2012]
This photo provides evidence that Australasian (Purple) Swamphens also take
grass seeds
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, November 2010]
Near-frontal view of an Australasian (Purple) Swamphen feeding
on grass on a
lawn
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Botanical Garden, Melbourne, VIC, April 2022]
Adult Australasian (Purple) Swamphen feeding its juvenile youngster the soft,
white part of an aquatic plant, which it has specifically separated
from the rest of the plant (photo courtesy of A. Ross-Taylor)
[Robina, Gold Coast, QLD, May 2015]
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Call(s)/Song |
For this species we have recorded the following call(s)/song. The
interpretation of their meaning is our own;
comments and suggestions for improvement are welcome.
purphen_20200313.m4a |
australis (NW NSW) |
Warning calls(?) (+Magpie Goose) | © MD | |
purphen_20160725.mp3 |
australis (NW NSW) |
Annoyed calls(?) | © MD | |
purphen_20211031.m4a |
australis (NW NSW) |
Fight over feeding rights | © MD |
We have also recorded the wing beat of an Australian (Purple) Swamphen.
purphen_20211018.m4a |
australis (NW NSW) |
Short flight into reeds | © MD |
More Australian (Purple) Swamphen sound recordings are available at
xeno-canto.org
.