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
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| Subspecies melanotas, photographed on King Island, June 2018 |
