The African swamphen is a species of swamphen occurring in Egypt, Sub-Saharan Africa and Madagascar. It used to be considered a subspecies of the purple swamphen, which it resembles, but with bronze green or green-blue back and scapulars.
Region
Sub-Saharan Africa and Madagascar
Typical Environment
Occupies freshwater marshes, papyrus swamps, reedbeds, and the vegetated margins of lakes, rivers, and lagoons. It favors dense emergent vegetation such as Typha and Phragmites where it can feed and conceal itself. The species adapts well to modified habitats, including rice fields, irrigation ditches, and reservoirs. It generally avoids fast-flowing water and very open shorelines, preferring patches of floating and tangled vegetation. Occurs from the Nile Delta south through much of sub-Saharan Africa and on Madagascar.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 2600 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 2/5
The African swamphen is a large, vividly colored rail of wetlands, split from the purple swamphen complex and distinguished by its bronze-green to green-blue upperparts. It has a bright red bill and frontal shield and extremely long toes that help it walk across floating vegetation. Pairs often defend reedbed territories and build bulky, sometimes floating nests. It readily uses human-made wetlands such as rice paddies and drainage canals.
Porphyrio madagascariensis - MHNT
Temperament
bold yet wary; territorial near nests
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats; reluctant flier over short distances
Social Behavior
Often seen in pairs or small family groups; pairs maintain territories in dense wetlands. Nests are bulky platforms of reeds, sometimes floating or hidden in thick vegetation. Cooperative breeding may occur, with helpers assisting in feeding chicks.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Vocal and loud, giving harsh grunts, squeals, and screeches. Alarm calls are sharp and explosive; contact notes are nasal clucks and croaks.
Plumage
Glossy deep blue to purplish head, neck, and underparts with bronze-green to green-blue back and scapulars; darker flight feathers and conspicuous white undertail coverts.
Diet
Primarily takes shoots, leaves, and stems of aquatic plants such as reeds, sedges, and water lilies. Also consumes seeds, grains, and agricultural crops when available. Opportunistically feeds on snails, insects, small fish, frogs, and occasionally eggs or chicks of other birds. Uses its long toes and strong bill to grasp stems and strip plant material.
Preferred Environment
Forages along the edges of dense emergent vegetation, on floating mats, and in shallow water. Readily enters rice fields and man-made wetlands, especially where cover is nearby.
