AUSTRALASIAN SWAMPHEN (PUKEKO)

Photographed at Ambury, New Zealand, June 2017

 (*  83)              AUSTRALASIAN SWAMPHEN             Porphyrio melanotus

NEW ZEALAND                 1

Australasian Swamphen, species of the Purple Swamphen species, found in Australia and New Zealand; known in New Zealand by maori name Pukeko. Found in wetlands, estuaries, short damp pastures and parks. 51 cm.

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