Scientific Name: Porphyrio indicus
Malay Name: Panglin Indonesia
Chinese Name: 黑背紫水鸡
Range: Recorded in the Indonesian archipelago: Borneo, Sulawesi, Sumatra, Java, and Bali. Recent sightings in Peninsular Malaysia may relate to dispersing birds from this species.
Taxonomy: Monotypic.
Size: 28-29 cm
Identification: Similar to Grey-headed Swamphen, but has a reduced frontal shield, with Black-backed normally lacking the prominent raised ridges on the sides of the shield. This species also shows darker upperparts and head compared to Grey-headed Swamphen. Generally, Black-backed Swamphen has a dark purple head and back, which appear as dark or darker than the underparts, while Grey-headed's head color appears lighter than the rest of the plumage. Hybrids of the two species may occur but confirmatory evidence is lacking. Their taxonomic relationships are also being debated.
Habitat: Freshwater wetlands.
Behaviour/Ecology:
Local Status: Very rare visitor
- An Indonesian Archipelago Wishlist: Birds to Look Out For (Science)
- Bird List Revision for January 2018 (Revisions)
- Checklist Revision for August 2022 (Revisions)
- Year in Review – 2022! (Blog)
Featured reports: Jul 2022
Sound Recordings: xeno-canto Link
Wikipedia Entry: Wikipedia Link
eBird Species page: eBird (Black-backed Swamphen)
References:
RECOMMENDED CITATION
Bird Society of Singapore. (n.d.). Black-backed Swamphen. Retrieved on December 11, 2024 from https://singaporebirds.com/species/black-backed-swamphen.