Western Swamphen

Porphyrio porphyrio

Introduction

A striking, large relative of the Moorhen, Western Swamphen breeds in southern Europe. Normally quite sedentary in habits, this is an extremely rare visitor to Britain.

The species was added to the British List on the basis of an individual found at Minsmere, Suffolk on 31 July 2016. It remained there until 5 August, before being relocated in Lincolnshire on 30 August where it remained until 4 January 2017.

Key Stats

Status

Very rare

Weight

660.5g

Seasonality

<1%

BTO Records

357 records

Population and distribution stats for:

No data

No current data

No current data

No data

No current data

No current data

Status and Trends

Population size, trends and patterns of distribution based on BTO and partnership surveys and atlasses with data collected by BTO volunteers.

Conservation Status

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This species can be found on the following statutory and conservation listings and schedules.

Species of European Conservation Concern

Least Concern

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (global)

Least Concern

Schedule 1 Licence required (to disturb)*

Birds Directive Annex 1

* A guide only. Check details with the original legislation, especially those marked with an asterisk. See About Birdfacts for more information.

Population Size

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BOU Category

Source

First Record*

Suffolk, 2016

* First documented occurrence. Most species undoubtedly occurred before this. See About Birdfacts for more information.

Population Change

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Population trends of this scarce species are not routinely monitored.

Distribution

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This species is a rare vagrant and was recorded during Bird Atlas 2007–11 as shown on the map.

Bird Atlas distribution maps show where bird species breed or winter in Britain and Ireland. For breeding maps, larger dots indicate higher certainty the species bred in that area.

Breeding Distribution for Western Swamphen

Click the map to enlarge,
or view it on Bird Atlas Mapstore.

To view and download up-to-date distribution information aggregated from across BTO and partnership surveys and schemes, see our data holdings on the NBN Atlas.

European Distribution Map

European Breeding Bird Atlas 2

Distribution Change

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This vagrant is too rarely reported to map distribution change.

Seasonality

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Western Swamphen is a very rare vagrant and these records relate to one or two well-watched individuals.

Weekly pattern of occurrence

The graph shows when the species is present in the UK, with taller bars indicating a higher likelihood of encountering the species in appropriate regions and habitats.

Phenology graph — Weekly occurrence patterns (shaded cells and reporting rates (vertical bars) based on BirdTrack data. Reporting rates give the likelihood of encountering the species each week.

Movement

Information about Western Swamphen movements and migration based on online bird portals (e.g. BirdTrack), Ringing schemes and tracking studies.

Britain & Ireland movement

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View a summary of recoveries in the Online Ringing Report

European movements

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EuroBirdPortal uses birdwatcher's records, such as those logged in BirdTrack to map the flows of birds as they arrive and depart Europe. See maps for this species here.

Biology

Lifecycle and body size information for Western Swamphen, including statistics on nesting, eggs and lifespan based on BTO ringing and nest recording data.

Survival and Longevity

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Survival is shown as the proportion of birds surviving from one year to the next and is derived from bird ringing data. It can also be used to estimate how long birds typically live.

Classification, names and codes

Taxonomy, names and species codes for Western Swamphen

Classification and Codes

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Order: Gruiformes
Family: Rallidae
Scientific name: Porphyrio porphyrio
Authority: Linnaeus, 1758

BTO 5-letter code: PURSW
Euring code number: 4270

Alternate species names

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Catalan: polla blava
Czech: slípka modrá
Danish: Sultanhøne
Dutch: Purperkoet
Estonian: sultantait
Finnish: sulttaanikana
French: Talève sultane

German: Purpurhuhn
Hungarian: kék fú
Icelandic: Bláhæna
Italian: Pollo sultano
Latvian: sultanvistina
Lithuanian: paprastoji sultonvište
Norwegian: Sultanhøne

Polish: modrzyk (zwyczajny)
Portuguese: camão
Slovak: sultánka modrá
Slovenian: sultanka
Spanish: Calamón común
Swedish: västlig purpurhöna

More Evidence

More evidence from Conservation Evidence.com

Partners

Birdfacts is based on data collected by volunteers participating in surveys that are organised and funded by BTO, RSPB, Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, JNCC and other partners.

BTO

Esmée Fairbairn Foundation

JNCC

RSPB

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