Wild Bird Wednesday 737 - Gray-Headed Swamphen

The Gray-Headed Swamphen (Porphyrio poliocephalus) is a large - up to about 45 cm - bluish-purple waterbird with a red bill and forehead shield, as well as red legs and feet with very long toes.

This bird was part of a group of birds simply known as the "Purple Swamphen" until the group was split into six separate species.  This species can be found throughout much of the Indian subcontinent, souther-estates Asia and parts of the middle east.  Interestingly, it has also been accidentally introduced into Florida in the USA where it now seems to have formed self-sustaining populations.

This species was a common sight in suitable habitat in India, and was often abundant in wet grassland and marsh areas.  It is a vocal, if not really tuneful, species.

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