Tropical Audubon Society

South Florida’s Voice of Conservation

eBirders:

A recent (8/10/15) taxonomy update affects one of our targeted birds in Miami-Dade County, the (old) Purple Swamphen. The new name listed in eBird is Gray-headed Swamphen.

Globally, the taxonomy of Purple Swamphen is complex, with over thirty subspecies. Birds in Florida, though having variable plumage, seem to have a low genetic diversity and are mainly P. poliocephalus (Gray-headed).

Included is a link to Bill Pranty's excellent article published in the May/June issue of _Birding Magazine_.