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).
Australasian Swamphen (Porphyrio melanotus) [XC123246]
by Marc Anderson from Tawharanui Regional Park, Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand (call)
Australasian Swamphen (Porphyrio melanotus) [XC526365]
by Drew Davison from P\u016bkorokoro Miranda Shorebird Centre (near Miranda), Waikato District, Waikato, New Zealand (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).