Scientific name: Amaurornis phoenicurus
Order: Gruiformes

Also called African Purple Swamphen or Purple Moorhen or Purple Gallinule or Purple Coot.

There are 13 or more subspecies of the Purple Swamphen, which differ mainly in plumage color. The species has a very loud explosive call described as a "raucous high-pitched screech, with a subdued musical tuk-tuk". It is particularly noisy during the breeding season. Despite being clumsy in flight it can fly long distances, and it is a good swimmer, especially for a bird without webbed feet.

The birds often live in pairs and larger communities. It clambers through the reeds, eating the tender shoots and vegetable-like matter. They have been known to eat eggs, ducklings, small fish and invertebrates such as snails. They will often use one foot to bring food to their mouth rather than eat it on the ground. Where they are not persecuted they can become tame and be readily seen in towns and cities.

Click for more information on this species at Wikipedia
Press the back button on the browser to return to this page

Click for a map of the bird's location
Press the back button on the browser to return to this page