Watercock vs African Swamphen
Gallicrex cinerea compared with Porphyrio madagascariensis
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Watercock | African Swamphen |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Gallicrex cinerea | Porphyrio madagascariensis |
| Order | Gruiformes | Gruiformes |
| Family | Rallidae | Rallidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Not Evaluated |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 37.2 cm (14.6 in) | — |
| Weight | 426.6666666666667 g (15.05 oz) | 608.0 g (21.45 oz) |
| Diet | -- | -- |
| Clutch Size | 3-6 | 2-6 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Conservation Status
Least Concern
Watercock
Not Evaluated
African Swamphen
About These Birds
Watercock
Watercock (Gallicrex cinerea) is a medium 42–43 cm rail of South and South-East Asia. Strongly sexually dimorphic; breeding male dark slaty with distinctive red frontal shield and knob; female brown-streaked. Inhabits rice paddies, freshwater marshes, and flooded grasslands from India east to China and Indonesia. Partly migratory. Polygynous.
African Swamphen
African Swamphen (Porphyrio madagascariensis) is a 38–50 cm large gallinule of sub-Saharan Africa and Madagascar. Deep blue-purple with greenish back, massive red bill and frontal shield, and red legs. Inhabits papyrus swamps, lake shores, and dense reed beds. Similar to Purple Swamphen but restricted to Africa.