Located at Dandenong, SE of Melbourne
Purple Swamp Hens - other name, Purple Moor Hens, is coloured dusky black above, with a broad dark blue collar, and dark blue to purple below. The bill is red and robust, and the legs and feet orange-red.
Purple Swamphens swim well but prefer to wander on the edge of the water, among reeds and on floating vegetation.
Common throughout Australia.
Purple Swamp Hens eat the soft shoots of reeds and rushes and small animals, such as frogs and snails. It also steals eggs and will also eat ducklings when it can catch them. The Purple Swamp Hen uses its long toes to grasp food while eating. See video.
