Purple Swamphen

Purple Swamphen (Porphyrio porphyrio) is mainly dusky black above, with a broad dark blue collar, and dark blue to purple below. As the bird walks, it flicks its tail up and down, revealing its white under tail. The bill is red and robust, and the legs and feet orange-red.

The bird is commonly seen around freshwater swamps, streams and marshes. It feeds on the soft shoots of reeds and rushes and small animals, including frogs and snails. It is a famous egg stealer and also eats ducklings. The bird builds nests from a platform of reeds trampled into a dish shape by the whole flock. Females lay three to five pale green eggs blotched with brown and purple. Purple Swamphen is locally called Kaim or Khima.