What is Australasian swamphen?
{{speciesbox|name=Australasian swamphen |status= |status_system= |status_ref= |image=Porphyrio porphyrio -Waikawa, Marlborough, New Zealand-8.jpg |image_caption=''P. melanotus'' at Waikawa, Marlborough, [[New Zealand]] |genus=Porphyrio |species=melanotus |authority=([[Coenraad Jacob Temminck|Temminck]], 1820) |synonyms=''Porphyrio porphyrio melanotus''}} The '''Australasian swamphen''' (''Porphyrio melanotus'') is a species of [[swamphen]] (''Porphyrio'') found in eastern [[Indonesia]] (the [[Moluccas]], [[Aru Islands|Aru]] and [[Kai Islands]]), [[Papua New Guinea]], [[Australia]] and [[New Zealand]]. In New Zealand, it is known as the '''pukeko''' (from the [[Māori language| Māori]] {{lang|mi|pūkeko}}). The species used to be thought a subspecies of the [[purple swamphen]]. == Distribution == The Australasian swamphen occurs in mainland Australia, eastern Indonesia, the Moluccas, Aru and Kai Islands, and in Papua New Guinea. It is also found on New Zealand's main islands and in the [[Chatham Islands|Chatham]] and [[Kermadec Islands]]. It has a small [[Frontal shield|shield]], black upperparts, and a purple throat and breast. ''P. p. pelewensis'' (Hartlaub & Finsch, 1872) from Palau, looks like ''melanotus'' but has greener upperparts and is smaller. ''P. p. melanopterus'' (Bonaparte, 1856) is found from the Lesser Sundas and Moluccas to New Guinea. It is as ''melanotus'' but smaller, more variable and less blue in the upperparts. ''P. p. bellus'' (Gould, 1820) from Western Australia is as ''melanotus'' but has a cerulean blue throat and breast. ''P. p. samoensis'' (Peale, 1848) occurs from New Guinea to New Caledonia and Samoa, and is as ''melanotus'' but smaller, with a little brown on the back [[File:Pukeko_01a.jpg|left|thumb|In flight in [[Pauatahanui Wildlife Reserve]], Wellington, New Zealand]] {{Taxonbar|from=Q27074640}} [[Category:Birds of Australia]] [[Category:Birds of New Zealand]] [[Category:Rallidae]]