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Purple Swamphen


Purple Swamphen
Photo Information
Copyright: Joe Kellard (joey) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1697 W: 242 N: 5609] (19923)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2008-02-17
Categories: Birds
Camera: Canon EOS 400D (Rebel XTi), Canon EF 75-300mm f/4-5.6 USM, Digital ISO-200, Jessops 58mm UV filter
Exposure: f/5.0, 1/800 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Loot's Favourites 1 [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2008-06-03 1:38
Viewed: 466
Points: 46
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Here's a shot from way back in February. I took it at Cotswold Wildlife Park and used my Canon 75-300mm lens on my 400D.
Weather is very grim here so I reckon it's gonna be archive photos for a few days until I'm able to get some new ones :-)

I hope you like it!

Purple Swamphen - Porphyrio porphyrio

Description
This large rail (44 - 48 cm) is unmistakable. The Purple Swamphen is mainly dusky black above, with a broad dark blue collar, and dark blue to purple below. As the Purple Swamphen walks, it flicks its tail up and down, revealing its white undertail. The bill is red and robust, and the legs and feet orange-red. The call is also distinctive: a loud, penetrating 'kee-ow', as well as some softer clucking between members of a group while feeding. For such a bulky bird, the Swamphen is an accomplished flier and will readily take to the air to escape danger. In flight, the long legs and elongated toes trail behind or hang underneath the body. Purple Swamphens are proficient swimmers, but prefer to wander on the edges of the water, among reeds and on floating vegetation.

Distribution and Habitat
The Purple Swamphen is found around freshwater swamps, streams and marshes, and is common throughout eastern and northern Australia, with an isolated population in the extreme south-west of the continent. Birds have transported themselves from Australia to New Guinea and New Zealand and throughout the islands of the south-west Pacific. It has been suggested that the New Zealand population of Purple Swamphens (locally called the Pukeko) originated in Australia.

Food and feeding
The diet of the Purple Swamphen includes the soft shoots of reeds and rushes and small animals, such as frogs and snails. However, it is a reputed egg stealer and will also eat ducklings when it can catch them. The Purple Swamphen uses its long toes to grasp food while eating.

Purple Swamphens are generally found in small groups and studies have shown that these consist of more males than females. More than one male will mate with a single female. All family members, and occasionally the young from a previous brood, share in incubation and care of the young. The nest consists of a platform of trampled reeds with the surrounding vegetation sometimes being used to form a shelter. Often two broods will be raised in a year.

Thanks!
ramthakur, Amadeo, boreocypriensis, gracious, maurydv, eng55, eqshannon, jaycee, nglen, NinaM, JoshLewis, yasin, Jamesp, marhowie, smitha, rousettus, Adanac has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To eqshannon: ISOjoey 1 06-04 01:28
To nglen: Hi Nickjoey 1 06-04 01:23
To Jamesp: Hijoey 1 06-04 01:19
To yasin: Thankyoujoey 1 06-04 01:16
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Critiques [Translate]

Fine capture of a Swamphen from your archive, Joe.
The portrait of the bird is lively with rich colours.
The eye in particular stands out for its sharpness and colour.
Well done and TFS.
Ram

  • Great 
  • PaulH Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1033 W: 26 N: 3000] (10824)
  • [2008-06-03 3:11]

Hi Joe, exceptional detail and clarity, what a great looking bird done justice by you, well done mate.
Paul

  • Great 
  • lousat Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1004 W: 6 N: 2717] (10087)
  • [2008-06-03 3:49]

Hi Joe,what a incredible color this bird!!Fantastic!!Never seen like that,a very wonderfull portrait,my best best compliments,thanks for share,LUCIANO

Hola Joe, buen primer plano y detalles de esta toma con buena luz y color. Un saludo

Hi Joe:) What a lovely bird, Purple Swamphen which I have not seen ever before. It seems to belong Galliformes (hens):) you captured excellent plumage details as usual. Wonderful composition. TFS my friend OwlMan!
Cheers,

Bayram

Hello Joe,
Nice closeup of this beautiful Swamphen in it's most beautiful colouration!
good pose with perfect sharpness and superb details in the shot
well done always
cheers
Tony

Meraviglioso ritratto, eccellenti POV e DOF, molto bello il taglio compositivo con i giochi di luce e il bellissimo BG, straordinaria nitidezza e perfetta definizione dei dettagli, magnifici i colori e i rilfessi del piumaggio. Grazie e compliomenti. Ciao Maurizio

  • Great 
  • eng55 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 353 W: 3 N: 376] (1127)
  • [2008-06-03 6:37]

Hi Joe,
Magnificent portrait.Colors,clear details and framing are perfect.Exposure is spot on,focus couldn't be better.
Thanks for posting.

I am having some leg difficulties so am not able to get out as much, however I do have an archive as you...and this one is only a few months old...it looks like a puffin family bird...I know so little just an observation, but worked out well...You should soon try higher ISO's yourself..in this case it would have made no dif, but a fun thing to play with. Very well seen!
Bob

  • Great 
  • jaycee Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1791 W: 8 N: 4653] (15039)
  • [2008-06-03 8:13]

Hi Joe,

Now this is something I have not seen before! The colors and shadings are amazing. The beak is quite a contrast to the plummage and I just love the eye. Beautiful colors and excellent details.

Jane

Joe

If I didnt know you better I would think that you had been out spraying your subjects to get better colour! I have never seen anything like this before, I especially like the top of the bill.

Jai

  • Great 
  • NinaM Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 567 W: 0 N: 1397] (4619)
  • [2008-06-03 14:55]

My dear Joey, I just read your new intro to your gallery! I am so glad that you put a picture of you there, with Bob's t-shirt! and though I cannot catch up with all your wonderful pictures you posted during my absence, I went to look at them and you amaze me with your stunning macro shots, mostly those of the insects' eyes, your beautiful bird pictures and I must reckon your talent is great and you have many years ahead of you to reach your goal. Thank you so much for sharing with us all those wonders you shoot! This bird is so blue, my eyes are twinkling by looking at it ;-)The colours are so beautiful and the picture is so sharp. Bye bye!

Francine

Joey, nice bird! This is great! The description is also very good, I am impressed! You keep making us want more and more, keep up the mice photos Joey! :-) Cheers Josh Lewis.

  • Great 
  • yasin Silver Star Critiquer/Silver Note Writer [C: 31 W: 1 N: 43] (129)
  • [2008-06-03 19:59]
  • [+]

Hi Joe,
Beautiful Pukeko you've captured with all colors! It looks so bright and full of details.
About the shadow, was it came from the natural lights (outdoor big cage) or auxiliary lamps (indoor small cage)?
I'm just curious because your flash didn't fire.
Very useful notes, Joe!
TFS. Best regards from Indonesia.

Yasin
PS: Was it insects category...?

  • Great 
  • Jamesp Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1252 W: 0 N: 4842] (14380)
  • [2008-06-03 21:13]
  • [+]

Hi Joe

A lovely portrait od this Pukeko - nice detail and framing. I saw a lot of these in NZ.

James

  • Great 
  • arfer Gold Star Critiquer [C: 2731 W: 0 N: 0] (0)
  • [2008-06-03 21:25]

Hello Joe

This is a beautiful swamphen.
The plumage colours are beautiful with sharp details.
An excellent portrait.
TFS

Rob

Hi Joe, splendid portrait with fantastic colors and splendid details, very well done, ciao Silvio

Hi Joe,
Bright colors & fine detail in this great profile capture.
Very nice BG browns to set it off..
Well composed - Well done!
Howard

  • Great 
  • nglen Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1995 W: 5 N: 5588] (21102)
  • [2008-06-04 10:30]
  • [+]

Hi Joe . we have had the rain as well i did hear on the radio on the way home Oxford was flooded hope you are ok.This was a good one to have in the archives . What bright colours. good detail and sharp focusing . well done TFS.
Nick..

  • Great 
  • cako Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 391 W: 0 N: 377] (2014)
  • [2008-06-04 10:57]

Hi Joe
Great exposure and colors.
exceptional detail and clarity

Hello Joe
wonderful portraite for Swamphen, with excellent sharp details, great BG, eyes contact. I look at it very pleasurely. thanks for sharing, best wishes
Ahmet

Hello Joe,
Beautiful portrait of this Swamphen. Composition, sharpness and details in the feathers are excellent. Great OOF BG.
Regards,
Peter

  • Great 
  • Adanac Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1051 W: 1 N: 4170] (14008)
  • [2008-06-08 17:11]

Hello Joe,
Vivid colors and sharp details in this fantatsic closeup image. Great work Joe, thanks for sharing.
Rick
PS Sorry I was so long in returning to comment.

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