Designed by Paul Smith 2006. This website is copyrighted by law.
Material contained herewith may not be used without the prior written permission of FAUNA Paraguay.
Material on this page was provided by Paul Smith, Silvia Centrón, Frank Fragano and Fredy Ramírez/FMB and is used with permission.
AMERICAN PURPLE GALLINULE Porphyrio martinica
In the Paraguayan wetlands you are unlikely to come across a bird more handsome than this. It is a member of the rail family, infamous for their skulking behaviour. Fortunately this species is less shy than its relatives and is often seen perched prominently near the tops of reeds. North American birders will likely know it well, the bird is a migrant to Paraguay.
Click on the images to enlarge them.
FIGURE 1 - (FPAVE3241PH) Adult lateral view, Central Chaco Lagoons, Cuenca Upper Yacaré Sur (Silvia Centron February 2008).
FIGURE 2 - (FPAVE3242PH) Adult, location unknown (Frank Fragano undated).
FIGURE 3 - (FPAVE3243PH) Adult, Zoologico Juan XXIII, Departamento Itapúa (Paul Smith June 2007).
FIGURE 4 - (FPAVE3244PH) Same individual as (FPAVE3243PH) (Paul Smith June 2007).
FIGURE 5 - (FPAVE3245PH) Juvenile, location unknown (Fredy Ramírez/Fundación Moises Bertoni undated)
VIDEO - (FPAVE3246VI) Adult, Tunakojai Indigenous Reserve, Departamento Boquerón (Paul Smith February 2012).
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