Western Swamphen (Porphyrio porphyrio)

Shorebirds of Ireland, Freshwater Birds of Ireland and The Birds of Ireland: A Field Guide 2nd Edition with Jim Wilson.
www.markcarmodyphotography.com

The western swamphen (Porphyrio porphyrio) is a species of swamphen in the rail family Rallidae, one of the six species of purple swamphen. This chicken-sized bird, with its large feet, bright plumage and red bill and frontal shield is easily recognisable in its native range. It used to be considered the nominate subspecies of the purple swamphen, but is now recognised as a separate species. The western swamphen is found in wetlands in Spain (where the largest population lives), Portugal, southeastern France, Italy (Sardinia and Sicily) and northwestern Africa (Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia).

The species makes loud, quick, bleating and hooting calls which are hardly bird-like in tone. It is particularly noisy during the breeding season. Despite being clumsy in flight, it can fly long distances and is a good swimmer, especially for a bird without webbed feet.

The western swamphen prefers wet areas with high rainfall, swamps, lake edges and damp pastures. 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.

Swamphens were often kept in captivity in ancient Greece and ancient Rome. The behavior of the species was described in some detail by Aristotle in History of Animals (4th century BC), and they were also mentioned by Aristophanes (5th century BC), Pliny the Elder (1st century BC), Aelian and Athenaeus (2nd to 3rd century AD).

t remains rare and local in Portugal where there were 49–67 breeding pairs in 2002, but this population is also recovering. (wikipedia)

I was fortunate to come across several pairs of Western Swamphen in a few locations near Vilarmoura, Portugal on a family holiday in June 2024. Crazy looking birds.

Taken in: Portugal / Faro / Olhos de Água / Praia da Falesia (show map)

Taken on: June 30, 2024

Tags:

Birds

Waders

Western Swamphen

Porphyrio porphyrio

Mark

books

Birds of Ireland: A Field Guide

Camera

Sony

200-600 G OSS FE 5.6-6.3

ILCE-9M2

A9II

SEL200600G

200-600mm

Mark Carmody

Carmo

Carmody

CarmoPolice

CarmoPolis

markcarmodyphotography

markcarmodyphotography.com

Topic

Wildlife

Europe

Portugal

Vilamoura

A9_02659 « less

Sets appears in: • Birds of the World (photographed outside of Ireland) • Birds of the Western Palearctic

Groups appears in: • The Photographer's Club • Wildlife Photography more » • Field Guide: Birds of the World • Birds/Aves • The Flickr Irish! • Birding & Butterfly Enthusiasts • Birds , Birds Birds • Bird Fanatics! (No Limits) • α - Sony Alpha Cameras • Birds of the Western Palearctic (WP) • World Wide Photographers • A Guide To The Birds Of Europe • Irish Flickr Users • Irish Photographers • Beautiful Earth • Bird and Nature Photography • El Paso Joe's Place - NO invite needed - Just great photos • N A T U R E [no limits] • The Coolest Damn Cool Photographers in the World • Mother Nature (At her best) • Birds Photos - Check out the new discussions! • Irish photographers. • Oiseaux d' Europe • Sony Alpha World • The Birds Of Flickr • Birds Birds Birds ! (Check out the new discussion) • Sony Alpha Bird Photographers • Sony Alpha Community • BirdWatching Magazine • Rare birds of the Western Palearctic • BBC Springwatch (Official) • Birds of Europe • BirdLife International • Sony Camera Club • Best Bird Photographers • European Birds and Wildlife • It's a Birder's World • Sony E-mount Shot (ILCE Camera) • The best photographs from around the world. • Birdingmaps « less

Camera: Sony ILCE-9M2, f/9.0, 1/640 sec, 840mm, ISO 3200 (more info) (hide info)

Camera:	Sony ILCE-9M2
Lens:	Sony FE 200–600 mm F5.6–6.3 G OSS (SEL200600G) + 1.4X Teleconverter (SEL14TC)
Aperture:	f/9.0
Exposure Time:	0.002 sec (1/640)
Focal Length:	840mm
ISO:	3200
Exposure Bias:	+1.7 EV
Flash:	Off, Did not fire
Exposure Program:	Manual
Exposure Mode:	Manual
Metering Mode:	Center-weighted average
White Balance:	Auto
Saturation:	Low
Sharpness:	Hard
Color Space:	Uncalibrated
Software:	Capture One 23 Macintosh
Show full info

Stats: 549 views