Purple Swamphen - Porphyrio porphyrio
Florida's Nonnative Wildlife. Species detail.
First year: 1996
Extirpated year:
Established status: Species are
present and breeding but for less than 10 years.
Estimated Florida range: 1
county Less than 10 years, 2 counties Not reported
breeding
Statewide trend: Expanding
Threats to natives: Although
they are primarily vegetarians swamphens have also been recorded
preying on mollusks, fish, frogs, lizards, snakes, bird eggs, and
small birds (Pranty et al. 2000). They may also impact the plant
life of the wetlands and the native species that depend on it.
Species Account: The birds in
Broward County probably come from 2 aviculturists near Silver
Lakes, but 8 birds did escape from the Miami Metro Zoo's "Wings of
Asia" exhibit in 1992. Most of the adult swamphens at Pembroke
Pines have grayish heads and are thought to be Porphyrio porphyrio
poliocephalus, which is native to Turkey and the Caspian Sea east
to southern Asia. There is also a blue-headed form seen at Pembroke
Pines that represents another subspecies.
Habitats: Lake, Freshwater marsh
| County |
First Year |
Extirpated Year |
Breeding status |
Notes |
| Broward |
1996 |
|
Less than 10 years |
In 1999, the population reached 134 birds in Pembroke Pines
(Pranty 2001b). |
| Dade |
1992 |
|
Not reported breeding |
8 escaped birds |
| Palm Beach |
2000 |
|
Not reported breeding |
1 seen at Wakodahtchee Wetlands and 3 at Belle Glade. |
References
Pranty, B. 2001b. Purple swamphens on the move.
Winging It 13(7):1-7.
Pranty, B., K. Schnitzius, K. Schnitzius, and H. W.
Lovell. 2000. Discovery, origin, and current distribution of
the purple swamphen (Porphyrio porphyrio) in Florida. Florida Field
Naturalist 28:1-40.
Links to more information
Australian
museum online species account
Back to Nonnative
Birds
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