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Purple Swamphen – iris and frontal shield

on 10th December 2017

Purple Swamphen-5a-Tambun, Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia-18th October 2017

“Had an opportunity for close up images while the Purple Swamphen (Porphyrio porphyrio viridis) was feeding (above). The iris is described as “chestnut to blood red” (Wells 1999).

Purple Swamphen-3a-Tambun, Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia-18th October 2017

“Generally I have seen blood red iris but this is on a ‘distance view’ – see above of the same bird showing this. When seeing it up close you can see that it has 2 colours – blood red centrally and chestnut on the outside. Wonder if this is a transition phase? Barry Taylor in ‘Rails: A Guide to Rails, Crakes, Gallinules and Coots of the World’ notes that juvenile birds have olive-brown iris while adults have red-brown iris.

Purple Swamphen-4a-Tambun, Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia-18th October 2017-1

“Above shows a close up of the frontal shield.”

Dato’ Dr Amar-Singh HSS
Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia
18th October 2017

Location: Tambun, Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia
Habitat: Secondary growth near limestone hills

If you like this post please tap on the Like button at the left bottom of page. Any views and opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the authors/contributors, and are not endorsed by the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum (LKCNHM, NUS) or its affiliated institutions. Readers are encouraged to use their discretion before making any decisions or judgements based on the information presented.

YC Wee

Dr Wee played a significant role as a green advocate in Singapore through his extensive involvement in various organizations and committees: as Secretary and Chairman for the Malayan Nature Society (Singapore Branch), and with the Nature Society (Singapore) as founding President (1978-1995). He has also served in the Nature Reserve Board (1987-1989), Nature Reserves Committee (1990-1996), National Council on the Environment/Singapore Environment Council (1992-1996), Work-Group on Nature Conservation (1992) and Inter-Varsity Council on the Environment (1995-1997). He is Patron of the Singapore Gardening Society and was appointed Honorary Museum Associate of the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum (LKCNHM) in 2012. In 2005, Dr Wee started the Bird Ecology Study Group. With more than 6,000 entries, the website has become a valuable resource consulted by students, birdwatchers and researchers locally and internationally. The views and opinions expressed in this article are his own, and do not represent those of LKCNHM, the National University of Singapore or its affiliated institutions.

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