Porphyrio melanotus

Australasian Swamphen at Yarralumla, ACT

Porphyrio melanotus at Yarralumla, ACT - 12 Aug 2018
Porphyrio melanotus at Yarralumla, ACT - 12 Aug 2018
Porphyrio melanotus at Yarralumla, ACT - 12 Aug 2018
Porphyrio melanotus at Yarralumla, ACT - 12 Aug 2018
Request use of media

Identification history

Porphyrio melanotus 20 Aug 2018 natureguy
Porphyrio melanotus 19 Aug 2018 BIrdsinCanberra

Identify this sighting


Please Login or Register to identify this sighting.

User's notes

I suspect these two may be a mating pair with the reeds under their feet the possible nesting site, although this is supposition on my part. What I have read is the nest consists of pushed down reeds so this may be what is occurring in this series of photos. Only the bird on the left actually had mud around its face, the bird on the right had a clean face. There was interesting action going on between the birds. In the third photo the bird on the left was almost supplicating itself to the bird on the right, where as in the final photo the left-hand bird appeared to be giving the right-hand bird a nip with its beak. This happened several times while I was watching them, although there was no reaction from the right-hand bird. I did not know if it was some mating or coupling act, or was it an attempt by the left-hand bird to hold down its mate while the right-hand bird was trying to bend the reed over.

Be the first to comment


Please Login or Register to comment.

Location information

Sighting information

Additional information

  • True Nesting site

Species information

Record quality

  • Overall Fit for scientific/research use
  • Images or audio
  • More than one media file
  • Confirmed by an expert moderator
  • Nearby sighting(s) of same species
  • GPS evidence of location
  • Description
  • Additional attributes
2,148,794 sightings of 19,882 species in 6,407 locations from 11,276 contributors
CCA 3.0 | privacy
We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of this land and acknowledge their continuing connection to their culture. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present.