Black-backed Swamphen vs Marquesan Swamphen
Porphyrio indicus compared with Porphyrio paepae
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Black-backed Swamphen | Marquesan Swamphen |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Porphyrio indicus | Porphyrio paepae |
| Order | Gruiformes | Gruiformes |
| Family | Rallidae | Rallidae |
| Conservation Status | Not Evaluated | Extinct |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | — | — |
| Weight | 604.45 g (21.32 oz) | — |
| Diet | -- | -- |
| Clutch Size | -- | -- |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Conservation Status
Not Evaluated
Black-backed Swamphen
Extinct
Marquesan Swamphen
About These Birds
Black-backed Swamphen
Black-backed Swamphen (Porphyrio indicus) is a 42–50 cm large swamphen of the Indonesian archipelago, including Sulawesi, the Moluccas, and New Guinea. Deep purple-blue with conspicuous jet-black back and mantle, distinguishing it from related swamphens. Massive red bill and frontal shield. Inhabits freshwater swamps and rice paddies.
Marquesan Swamphen
Marquesan Swamphen (Porphyrio paepae) is an extinct flightless swamphen known only from subfossil bones from the Marquesas Islands, French Polynesia. Lost following Polynesian settlement and later European contact. Part of the broader pattern of Pacific island rail extinctions linked to human arrival and introduced rats.