Purple Swamphen preening

YC Wee
on 21st August 2014

“After a bath, the Purple Swamphen (Porphyrio porphyrio viridis) walked up a dead branch for an extended preening session.

“The waterhen likes to spread wings and shake them from side to side to dry out.

“This offered an opportunity to image the crown. Did not appreciate the central crown deep purple band previously.

“A short video can be viewed above.

“Also recorded it feeding on a mollusc. Classical use of the foot to assit in anchorign prey and getting traction (above, below).”

Dato’ Dr Amar-Singh HSS
Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia
21th May 2013

Location: Tambun Interior, Perak, Malaysia
Habitat: Fish farming, ex-mining pools, limestone hills nearby

If you like this post please tap on the Like button at the left bottom of page. Any views and opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the authors/contributors, and are not endorsed by the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum (LKCNHM, NUS) or its affiliated institutions. Readers are encouraged to use their discretion before making any decisions or judgements based on the information presented.

YC Wee

Dr Wee played a significant role as a green advocate in Singapore through his extensive involvement in various organizations and committees: as Secretary and Chairman for the Malayan Nature Society (Singapore Branch), and with the Nature Society (Singapore) as founding President (1978-1995). He has also served in the Nature Reserve Board (1987-1989), Nature Reserves Committee (1990-1996), National Council on the Environment/Singapore Environment Council (1992-1996), Work-Group on Nature Conservation (1992) and Inter-Varsity Council on the Environment (1995-1997). He is Patron of the Singapore Gardening Society and was appointed Honorary Museum Associate of the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum (LKCNHM) in 2012. In 2005, Dr Wee started the Bird Ecology Study Group. With more than 6,000 entries, the website has become a valuable resource consulted by students, birdwatchers and researchers locally and internationally. The views and opinions expressed in this article are his own, and do not represent those of LKCNHM, the National University of Singapore or its affiliated institutions.

Other posts by YC Wee

Singapore-Nature: 17. Citizen Science

30th August 2023

Singapore-Nature: 16. Living close to nature

18th August 2023

Singapore’s secret “garden”

20th July 2023

Singapore-Nature: 15. Looking versus studying birds

12th July 2023

Singapore Nature: 14. Accolades

6th July 2023

One Response

  1. Thanks for the helpful pictures and video. I hadn’t seen a rail using its feet to eat a mollusc before, so that was a particularly interesting shot.

    Reply

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