Western Purple Swamphen
The Western Purple Swamphen is a chicken-sized bird and a member of the rail family which includes the Coot and Moorhen. With its large feet, bright plumage and red bill and frontal shield it is easily recognisable in its native range of Spain, Portugal, southern France, Sardinia and north Africa to Tunisia. It used to be considered the nominate subspecies of the Purple Swamphen which has now been split in to 6 separate species since 2015.
The Western Purple Swamphen makes loud, quick, bleating and hooting calls, which are hardly bird-like in tone, and it is particularly noisy during the breeding season. Despite being clumsy in flight it can fly long distances and it is also a good swimmer, especially for a bird without webbed feet.
The Western Purple Swamphen can be found in wet areas such as reedbeds, swamps, lake edges and damp pastures. It often lives in pairs and larger communities. It clambers through the reeds, eating the tender shoots and vegetable-like matter, although it has been known to eat eggs, ducklings, small fish and invertebrates such as snails. It will often use one foot to bring food to their mouth rather than eat it on the ground.
The Western Purple Swamphen in the Mediterranean region has declined due to habitat loss, hunting and pesticide use, and requires strict protection.
Date: 9th November 2009
Location: Delta de l’Ebre, Catalunya, Spain
The Western Purple Swamphen makes loud, quick, bleating and hooting calls, which are hardly bird-like in tone, and it is particularly noisy during the breeding season. Despite being clumsy in flight it can fly long distances and it is also a good swimmer, especially for a bird without webbed feet.
The Western Purple Swamphen can be found in wet areas such as reedbeds, swamps, lake edges and damp pastures. It often lives in pairs and larger communities. It clambers through the reeds, eating the tender shoots and vegetable-like matter, although it has been known to eat eggs, ducklings, small fish and invertebrates such as snails. It will often use one foot to bring food to their mouth rather than eat it on the ground.
The Western Purple Swamphen in the Mediterranean region has declined due to habitat loss, hunting and pesticide use, and requires strict protection.
Date: 9th November 2009
Location: Delta de l’Ebre, Catalunya, Spain
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Also in: Catalunya
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