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Purple Swamphen – Feeding behaviour, shoots

on 4th November 2017

“I was driving on a narrow dirt trail in wetlands area of ex-mining pools and water plant overgrowth when I met up with this Purple Swamphen (Porphyrio porphyrio viridis). It is probably a bird I met a number of times and is rather ‘friendly’. I had an opportunity to watch feeding behaviour for 25 minutes at close range. I stayed in the car and used a bean bag to stabilise the lens and the bird was about 3 meters out the car window – blocked by reeds but generally offering a good observation of feeding habits. The diet of this bird is well established. I want to offer some observations on feeding and some images and video to support it.

“An earlier post is on feeding behaviour of Purple Swamphen on snails LINK. This second observation deals with feeding on shoots.

Purple Swamphen-shoot-1a-Tambun, Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia-18th October 2017

“I saw 3 shoot feeding episodes in the 25 minute observation. The bird was quite sharp at spotting these in the water and breaking off the succulent tip. It would peel off the outer layer (above, below) before consuming the shoot.

Purple Swamphen-shoot-2a-Tambun, Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia-18th October 2017

“A dirt encrusted shoot would be washed before eating. Bits that had fallen into the shallow water were also searched for and consumed. I am amazed at the dexterity of such a large claw. Although I have called these ‘shoots’, I think they are stolons of the Water Hyacinth plant (Eichhornia crassipes) which is a runner outgrowth for reproduction.”

Dato’ Dr Amar-Singh HSS
Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia
18th October 2017

Location: Tambun, Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia
Habitat: Secondary growth near limestone hills

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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