Saturday, June 14, 2014

PURPLE SWAMPHEN


83       PURPLE SWAMPHEN       Porphyrio melantonus     

Australia   (83)

Also known as Bald coot, Eastern or western swamp hen, Pukeko. Range is eastern half of Australia from Cape York to Tasmania, also sw Western Australia, and top of WA and NT. Found on margins of lakes, swamps and shallow rivers.

Note: 2 subspecies in Australia
melantonus:  most of n and e Australia, including Tassie.
bellus:     sw WA



Subspecies melanotas, photographed on King Island, June 2018

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