Photo: Andreas Trepte / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)

Least Concern

Cranes & Rails

Western Swamphen

Porphyrio porphyrio

Western Swamphen (Porphyrio porphyrio) — Cranes & Rails of Europe & Northern Asia.

Field guide · LocationsWhere to see this bird

Found across 15 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.

Regional checklists

Birds of Germany Birds of Spain Birds of France Birds of the United Kingdom Birds of the Netherlands Birds of Portugal Birds of England Birds of Cumbria Birds of Lincolnshire Birds of Suffolk

By family

Rails, Crakes & Coots of Spain Rails, Crakes & Coots of France Rails, Crakes & Coots of the United Kingdom Rails, Crakes & Coots of Portugal Rails, Crakes & Coots of England

See what's near you right now

The Western Swamphen (Porphyrio porphyrio) is a member of the Rallidae family found in Africa and Europe & Northern Asia. Adults weigh 774 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.

Conservation status

IUCN Red List

LC Least Concern

Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.

Where it fits

Class Aves
Order Gruiformes
Family Rallidae Rails, Crakes & Coots
Genus Porphyrio
Species porphyrio

Where it lives

Southwestern Europe and northwestern Africa

Quick facts

Weight: 774 g
Diet: Aquatic plant-eaters
Family: Rallidae
Order: Gruiformes
Habitat: Wetland, lake & coast

How to identify

Similar birds

Not Evaluated

Biology & behaviour

Diet

The Western Swamphen feeds mainly on aquatic plants and algae.

Behaviour

A bird of wetlands, it forages mainly on the ground.

Migration

The Western Swamphen is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.

The Western Swamphen (Porphyrio porphyrio) belongs to the Rallidae family of the order Gruiformes. It occurs naturally across Africa and Europe & Northern Asia. Its distribution covers PAL, AF sw Europe and nw Africa.

It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 774 g, with a wing length of about 23.5 cm and a tail of around 8.6 cm.

The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.

The species has a mapped global range of roughly 18.7 million km² — a very large global range.

Songs & calls

Western Swamphen — Call, flight call, nocturnal flight call

Recorded by Thierry THOMAS Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

Frequently asked questions

How big is the Western Swamphen?

The Western Swamphen is a large bird that weighs around 774 g.

Where does the Western Swamphen live?

The Western Swamphen is found across Africa and Europe & Northern Asia with a range covering PAL, AF sw Europe and nw Africa, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.

What family does the Western Swamphen belong to?

The Western Swamphen (Porphyrio porphyrio) belongs to the Rallidae family, in the order Gruiformes.

What does the Western Swamphen eat?

The Western Swamphen feeds mainly on aquatic plants and algae.

Does the Western Swamphen migrate?

The Western Swamphen is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.

Is the Western Swamphen endangered?

The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.

What sound does the Western Swamphen make?

1 real field recording of the Western Swamphen — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.

How large is the Western Swamphen's range?

The Western Swamphen has a mapped global range of about 18.7 million km².