Western swamphen

Western swamphen
On the island of Mallorca, Spain
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Gruiformes
Family: Rallidae
Genus: Porphyrio
Species:
P. porphyrio
Binomial name
Porphyrio porphyrio
Synonyms
  • Fulica porphyrio Linnaeus, 1758
  • Porphyrio coeruleus

The western swamphen (Porphyrio porphyrio) is a species of swamphen in the rail family Rallidae, one of the six species of purple swamphen. From the French name talève sultane, it is also known as the sultana bird. 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).[2]

  1. ^ BirdLife International. (2019) [amended version of 2016 assessment]. "Porphyrio porphyrio". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2019: e.T22692792A155531172. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22692792A155531172.en. Retrieved 27 August 2023.
  2. ^ Lopes, R.J.; Gomez, J.A.; Andreotti, A.; Andreoni, M. (2016). "Purple Swamphen or Gallinule (Porphyrio porphyrio) and Humans". Society & Animals. 24 (6): 574–595. doi:10.1163/15685306-12341432.