• National Parks and Wildlife Foundation
  • National Parks and Wildlife Foundation
  • National Parks and Wildlife Foundation
  • National Parks and Wildlife Foundation
  • National Parks and Wildlife Foundation

Backyard Buddies: Why did the chicken cross the road?

08 Oct 2010

100x100swamphenIf you have recently seen what looks like a purple chicken, chances are you’ve spotted a Purple Swamphen, Porphyrio porphyrio.

Spring rains are bringing Purple Swamphens to roadsides. You may think that Purple Swamphens are not too bright when you see them on the roadside darting backwards and forwards, looking for an opportunity to cross the road. However they are not stupid or suicidal – they are just attracted to roadside ditches and drains as they are a great source of food.

Australia’s Foundation for National Parks & Wildlife’s Backyard Buddies program is all about getting more enjoyment from native animals in your backyard. It provides tips and advice on how to make your backyard a retreat for our Purple hens.

“You are likely to find Purple Swamphens around the edges of freshwater swamps, lakes and creeks surrounded by dense reeds and rushes. Here they can find food, build nests for breeding and find protection from danger.” explained Ms Leonie Gale, CEO of the Foundation for National Parks & Wildlife. “You may also stumble upon these birds in parks with ponds. They are common throughout Australia’s east and north, with an isolated population in the south-west.”

You can spot a Purple Swamphen by its distinctive red bill and forehead shield, red eyes and deep blue head and breast. In bright sunlight the plumage shines with an intense blue sheen. Long reddish legs with long slender unwebbed toes help them walk and feed in shallow water. Their white undertail becomes visible as they flick their tail up and down when they walk.

Purple swamphens are highly adaptable to changing environments – they can run, swim, fly and hide from predators. They are omnivores, eating a wide variety of both plants and small animals including seeds, insects, frogs and aquatic vegetation. They will also eat eggs and small mammals and have the strength to pull up reeds and feed on the soft stems.

There is safety in numbers so Purple Swamphens live in large extended family groups, whereas most birds live in pairs with only the current season's chicks. Breeding can take place at any time, but is mainly from July to December. They lay an average of 5 eggs and help each other out, even sharing the responsibilities of sitting on the eggs, feeding the young and chasing away predators.

“Generally Purple Swamphens will retreat away from humans if we get too close. If you notice Purple Swamphen chicks, keep your distance as the hens are very territorial during breeding season, and may even bite. The hens form a large nest bowl from trampled reeds and rushes and line it with softer reeds and grass. Look out for a platform of reeds just above the water surrounded by vegetation as this may be a Purple Swamphen nest.” said Ms Gale. “Purple Swamphens are full of character and can provide a lot of amusement for the observer.

A few more things about Australia’s Purple Swamphens

  • Purple Swamphens are found in many parts of the world and have many different names? They have many names including the African Purple Swamphen, Purple Moorhen, Purple Gallinule, Purple Coot, Redbill or the Pūkeko.
  • Purple Swamphens have an interesting habit of holding food between their long toes, picking off small pieces with their bills and then feeding it to their young.
  • Romans kept Purple Swamphens as decorative birds at large villas and expensive houses. The Greeks and Romans refrained from eating the hens that were placed in palaces and temples, where they walked around freely.
  • Purple Swamphens are not chickens! They are part of the rail family of birds that include crakes, coots and gallinules.
  • In Western Australia their breast and neck are sky blue rather than purple.

So what else can you do to be a Backyard Buddy to our Swamphens?

  • Slow down after rain if you know that Purple Swamphens live near you.
  • If your backyard backs onto a freshwater creek, make sure you leave a lot of vegetation around the water. This is not only attractive to Purple Swamphens but will also attract many other buddies and help control erosion in heavy falls.
  • Keep your cat indoors at night as they are known to prey on young hens
  • Avoid using pesticides which can contaminate local waterways

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