McMurray Hatchery Purple Swamphen

The Purple Swamphen (Porphyrio porphyrio) is a large, bulky and rare waterfowl with a black back, broad dark blue collar and neck, and dark blue to purple chest. The Purple Swamphen has a bright red bill, and orange-red legs and feet. As the Swamphen walks, its tail flicks up and down, revealing a white undertail. There are actually six species of the Purple Swamphen, and the Porphyrio porphyrio is commonly known as the Western Swamphen. Also known as the Sultana Bird, they are native to Spain, Portugal, France, Italy and northwestern Africa. 

The Purple Swamphen is bulky yet, surprisingly, accomplished flier and proficient swimmer — even with its lack of webbed feet. However, they prefer to wade along the edges of the water, among reeds and on floating vegetation. They make a loud, quick, bleating or hooting call and are especially noisy during breeding season. 

The Purple Swamphen's diet includes the soft shoots of reeds and plants, and small animals such as frogs and snails. Swamphens are also known to steal eggs and eat ducklings when they can catch them, using its long toes to hold food when they eat.

Purple Swamphens are generally seasonal breeders and pairs often nest in reeds in swamps, clumps of rushes, or long unkempt grass. Each hen can lay 3–6 eggs. Male Swamphens are known to help incubate the eggs. 

Purple Swamphen chicks are downy black and able to leave the nest soon after hatching. Young chicks are fed by their parentsfor between 10–14 days, after which they will feed themselves.

These birds are not pinioned. To request that a wing be clipped, please call our office at (800) 456-3280.