Grey-headed swamphen (Porphyrio poliocephalus) நீலத் தாழைக்கோழி Birds of Chennai Wetland / Marshland

 Grey-headed swamphen (Porphyrio poliocephalus) நீலத் தாழைக்கோழி is a species of swamphen occurring from the Middle East and the Indian subcontinent to southern China and northern Thailand. It used to be considered a subspecies of the purple swamphen, but was elevated to full species status in 2015; today the purple swamphen is considered a superspecies, and each of its six races is designated full species.

Animalia > Chordata > Aves > Gruiformes > Rallidae > Porphyrio > Porphyrio porphyrio (Linnaeus, 1758)

A couple of Grey-headed Swamphen (Photo credit: U Elaya Perumal)

The male has an elaborate courtship display, holding water weeds in his bill and bowing to the female with loud chuckles.

The grey-headed swamphen was introduced to North America in the late 1990s due to avicultural escapes in the Pembroke Pines, Florida area. State wildlife biologists attempted to eradicate the birds, but they have multiplied and can now be found in many areas of southern Florida. Ornithological authorities consider it likely that the swamphen will become an established part of Florida's avifauna. It was added to the American Birding Association checklist in February 2013.

This couple of Swamphen is continuously observed in this site. they always sited in the same area. morning to evening they search for food... A very large bluish-purple gallinule with a red bill and forehead shield and red legs and feet with long toes. The tail is flicked up often, revealing fluffy white “underpants.” Juveniles are duller than adults and lack the red bill and shield. A common inhabitant of marshy, vegetated freshwater bodies such as swamps, rivers, and lakes; usually in small groups. Feeds, often clumsily, at muddy water edges, in reeds, and on floating vegetation. Makes short nasal grunts and croaking sounds.

Here are some pics from the Medavakkam Wetland area 

(Photo credit: U Elaya Perumal)

(Photo credit: U Elaya Perumal)

(Photo credit: U Elaya Perumal)

(Photo credit: U Elaya Perumal)

(Photo credit: U Elaya Perumal)

(Photo credit: U Elaya Perumal)

(Photo credit: U Elaya Perumal)

 

(Photo credit: U Elaya Perumal)

A purplish blue bird with the size of a village hen. Redlegs and red beak and frontal shield.  White patch under the stumpy tail flashed as the bird flicks its tail with each step (Photo credit: U Elaya Perumal).

(Photo credit: U Elaya Perumal)

(Photo credit: U Elaya Perumal)

(Photo credit: U Elaya Perumal)

A large purplish-blue bird with long red legs and large feet. It has a huge red bill that extends back into a red frontal shield. The white patch under its stumpy tail can be seen as it is flicked up at each step. It is fond of climbing up reeds and sunning itself early in the morning. It is usually found in reedy swamps and marshes, where it is seen in pairs or small parties. It stalks or skulks through the vegetation with a jerky bobbing of the head and flicking of the tail. It feeds on shoots and other vegetation, as well as insects and molluscs, and larger parties can be destructive in young paddy fields. The call consists of loud hooting, cackling and hoarse notes. In the breeding season the male has an elaborate if amusing courtship display. He holds up waterweed in his bill as an offering to the female, who he bows to whilst uttering loud chuckles.