Porphyrio porphyrio

Purple swamphen

Taxonomy
Phylum Chordates (Chordata)
Class Birds (Aves)
Order  (Gruiformes)
Family  (Rallidae)
Genus  (Porphyrio)
Species Authority Linnaeus, 1758
Information
Summary Status: vulnerable (Category II), only small numbers inhabit southern Kazakstan. It is mainly found in Africa, southern Asia and Australia. In the north, it can be observed in the southern parts of Europe and in the Caspian Sea region. The purple swamphen winters where it nests, but it migrates from the northern part of its habitat area, along the Volga and Ural Rivers, to the southwestern part of the Caspian Sea region. The total number of purple swamphen in the Caspian Sea region never exceeds 4,000 to 5,000 individuals. Basis limiting factors include the freezing of water reservoirs in winter, poaching and flooding. In Kazakstan, the purple swamphen is not protected, but a proposal to create a reserve near the mouth of the Ural River is under consideration. Such a reserve will help protect the purple swamphen.

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