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7

Western Swamphen

(Porphyrio porphyrio)
Alternate name(s): "Purple Swamphen", "Purple Gallinule", "Sultanabird"
German name(s): "Purpurhuhn"

Size: 45-50 cm; wing span ca. 95 cm
Weight: 700 g (average)

Similar
species

Description     Classification     Distribution     Sightings     Photos     Breeding     Nest     Eggs     Behaviour     Food     Call/s

Physical description

Click here for a physical description

Taxonomy, classification

See Western Swamphen at Wikipedia .

Click here for classification information

Range, habitat, finding this species

Click here for information on habitat and range

Sightings

Click here for sighting information

Photos

ADULT

Sex unknown

Frontal view of a Western Swamphen (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Elvas, Alentejo, Portugal, August 2019]

Near-frontal view of a Western Swamphen (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Elvas, Alentejo, Portugal, July 2018]

Near-frontal view of a Western Swamphen (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Badajoz, Spain, November 2021]

Near-lateral view of a Western Swamphen (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Badajoz, Spain, November 2021]

Near-lateral view of a Western Swamphen (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Elvas, Alentejo, Portugal, July 2018]

Lateral view of a Western Swamphen (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Tejo estuary, Portugal, October 2019]

Two Western Swamphens together; the near-dorsal view of the bird in front shows clearly the characteristic single, large white undertail spot (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Tejo estuary, Portugal, November 2019]

IMMATURE/JUVENILE

Frontal view of a juvenile Western Swamphen (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Guadiana river, Badajoz, Spain, July 2018]

Western Swamphen chick ducking for cover (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Elvas, Alentejo, Portugal, July 2018]

These pages are largely based on our own observations and those of our contributors. The structure of these bird pages is explained HERE. For more salient facts on any bird species please refer to a field guide.

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