Northern and eastern Australia and Tasmania to New Zealand, Kermadec Is and Chatham Is. Migrates to New Guinea. Considered by some authors to be a subspecies of Purple Swamphen (Porphyrio porphyrio).
Rarity Status
Currently this species is not classified as a rarity in this country OR information has not been updated.
Australasian Swamphen (Porphyrio melanotus) [XC860107]
by Peter Boesman from Murray Valley National Park--Gulpa Creek Reed Beds, New South Wales, Australia (call)
Australasian Swamphen (Porphyrio melanotus) [XC721723]
by Richard Fuller from Bicentennial Park, Australia Ave (near Sydney Olympic Park), City of Parramatta Council, New South Wales, Australia (begging call)
Subspecies
Considered by some authors to be a subspecies of Purple Swamphen (Porphyrio porphyrio).
The following 5 subspecies are recognised:
melanopterus Bonaparte, 1856 - Moluccas and Lesser Sundas to New Guinea. Considered by some authors to be a subspecies of Purple Swamphen (Porphyrio porphyrio).
pelewensis Hartlaub & Finsch, 1872 - Palau Is. Considered by some authors to be a subspecies of Purple Swamphen (Porphyrio porphyrio).
melanotus Temminck, 1820 - Northern and eastern Australia and Tasmania to New Zealand, Kermadec Is and Chatham Is. Migrates to New Guinea. Considered by some authors to be a subspecies of Purple Swamphen (Porphyrio porphyrio).
bellus Gould, 1841 - South-western Australia. Considered by some authors to be a subspecies of Purple Swamphen (Porphyrio porphyrio).
samoensis Peale, 1849 - Admiralty Is south to New Caledonia and east to Samoa. Considered by some authors to be a subspecies of Purple Swamphen (Porphyrio porphyrio).
BirdLife International Species Factsheet