Philippine Swamphen
Porphyrio pulverulentus
A large, colorful waterbird of wetlands with a purplish-blue body and front of the wings, a dark brown back and back of the wings, white under the base of the tail, and bright red legs, bill, and forehead shield. Somewhat similar to Eurasian Moorhen but larger, blue rather than gray, without the yellow-tipped bill. Juvenile also resembles Plain Bush-hen, but with a larger and thicker bill. Voice includes a harsh croaking “kraak!”
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Porphyrio pulverulentus
- Authority
- Temminck, 1826
- Order
- Gruiformes
- Family
- Rallidae
- Genus
- Porphyrio
Photos
Other Birds
Tenerife Blue Chaffinch
Fringilla teydea
Endemic to the island of Tenerife in the Canary Islands. Medium-sized finch with a strong and heavy bill and broken white eyering. Male is a striking dark blue-gray while female is brown-gray. Largely restricted to montane pine forests. Song is a repetitive, accelerating series; call is a “pi”chewee.”
Desert Sparrow
Passer simplex
Small, delicate pallid sparrow. Male has pale gray upperparts, a black bib, black lines in front of the eyes (lores), sandy underparts, and large white wing patches. Female is pale sandy overall with paler underparts. Found in sandy arid habitats, desert scrub, plantations, oases, and tamarisk scrub. Call is a rather deep "churp."
Red-throated Twinspot
Hypargos niveoguttatus
Small, chunky dark waxbill with bright white “twin spots” across the black belly. The male has a red hood and gray crown, and the female an orange breast and brownish head. Found in lush habitats, including forest edge, clearings, and thickets. Shy and inconspicuous. Distinctive call is a short, high trill. The rarely heard song is a complex mix of many different call types. Similar to Pink-throated Twinspot, but male separated by the gray crown, and female by the orange breast.
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