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Purple Swammphens


Purple Swammphens
Photo Information
Copyright: ronny hole (ronnyho) Silver Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 16 W: 0 N: 80] (556)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2012-12-29
Categories: Birds
Camera: Canon 7D, Canon EF400mm f/5.6L USM
Exposure: f/5.6, 1/640 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2013-01-09 10:07
Viewed: 2583
Points: 10
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Found a pair of those beautifull birds at the bank of the Nile in Aswan. Too bad we can't upload bigger files here on treknature....
Hope you like it!

The nominate subspecies, P. p. porphyrio (Linnaeus, 1758), is found in Iberia, France, Sardinia and North Africa to Tunisia. P. p. madagascariensis (Latham, 1801) occurs in Egypt, sub-Saharan Africa and Madagascar, and resembles the nominate but with bronze green or green-blue back and scapulars.
The species makes loud, quick, bleating and hooting calls, which are hardly bird-like in tone. It is particularly noisy during the breeding season. Despite being clumsy in flight it can fly long distances, and it is a good swimmer, especially for a bird without webbed feet.
The Purple Swamphen prefers wet areas with high rainfall, swamps, lake edges and damp pastures. The birds often live in pairs and larger communities. It clambers through the reeds, eating the tender shoots and vegetable-like matter. They have been known to eat eggs, ducklings, small fish and invertebrates such as snails. They have even been known to attack large eels, however there is no consensus amongst ornithologists if they actually eat eel. They will often use one foot to bring food to their mouth rather than eat it on the ground.
Evidence from Pliny the Elder and other sources shows that the Romans kept Purple Swamphens as decorative birds at large villas and expensive houses. They were regarded as noble birds and were among the few birds that Romans did not eat.
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ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To Hormon_Manyer: Thanksronnyho 1 01-09 13:37
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Critiques [Translate]

amazing pair, TFS Ori

Hi Ronny,
Nice capture of these colorful birds, I especially like the pose of the closer one. Sharpness and colors are OK, a pity the focused bird is too closed to the edge of the frame. Otherwise a great photo.
Best regards, László

  • Great 
  • PeterZ Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5136 W: 166 N: 13121] (49139)
  • [2013-01-09 10:43]

Hello Ronny,
Very nice photo of these swamphens, specially the one in front. Excellent sharpness, details and beautiful colours. Taken from a very good low POV.
Regards,
Peter

hello Ronny
super colours and great details
very nice composition
thanks greeting lou

  • Great 
  • lousat Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 6479 W: 89 N: 15610] (65303)
  • [2013-01-10 15:24]

HI Ronny,another very lucky meeting on the Nile close to Aswan,i been there me too but not lucky like you..ehehe..magnificent specie,great capture and beautiful details and colors.Have a nice day and thanks,Luciano

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