Purple Swamphen – plumage

YC Wee
on 22nd June 2017

“The Purple Swamphen (Porphyrio porphyrio viridis), as the name suggests, is often described as having blue-purple plumages, especially of the neck and breast.

SwamphenP-plumage [AmarSingh] 1

“The local subspecies is called P. p. viridis. ‘Viridis’ means green and looking closely from the front (above) you can see the green plumage (turquoise green) in the front on the neck and upper breast, which then ‘merges’ into the blue.

SwamphenP-plumage [AmarSingh] 2

“It is not easy to see the green from the side (above) or in low light. Both posts also show the magnificent frontal shield. See Taylor. (2017). Purple Swamphen in Handbook of the Birds of the World.”

Dato’ Dr Amar-Singh HSS
Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia
2nd June 2017

Location: Tambun, Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia
Habitat: Secondary growth near limestone hills and ex-mining pools (fish farming)

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.

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Any views and opinions expressed in the articles 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.

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