In the Mekong Delta, there is a beautiful and intelligent bird that can be kept as a pet or used to guard homes instead of dogs: the Purple Swamphen. Although it is a type of ornamental bird, its wild and aggressive nature has remained unchanged over the years.
The Purple Swamphen, scientifically known as Porphyrio poliocephalus, belongs to the rail family and is distributed across southern provinces of China and Southeast Asian countries.
The Purple Swamphen has long, elegant legs and performs beautiful, graceful dances.
The Purple Swamphen has a relatively small body, but its striking green breast stands out against its black back, while its beak and comb are red. It also boasts long, graceful legs and performs quite elegant dances.
Originally wild, these birds have become popular pets due to their beauty and ease of care. People who have kept Purple Swamphens for a long time often treat them like chickens, allowing them to roam freely rather than keeping them in cages. In this case, they eat rice, vegetables, and fish, rather than requiring special feeding like typical pet birds.
The Purple Swamphen retains its wild behavioral traits. They breed easily when living in spacious environments with plenty of vegetation and water bodies. However, if kept in cages, they may struggle to reproduce. Their most aggressive behavior is observed during the breeding season. At this time, interacting with them can be quite risky. A Purple Swamphen reaches reproductive maturity at around 18 months old, laying 2 to 3 clutches of 2 to 6 eggs per year.
Purple Swamphens are allowed to roam freely instead of being kept in cages.
Many people keep Purple Swamphens as home guards instead of dogs. While they may not be as large or strong as dogs, these birds are very fierce and can rival any opponent. They can charge at intruders, pecking with their beaks while delivering powerful kicks that can cause injury. Additionally, the Purple Swamphen has a loud, distinctive call that is quite effective for alerting to danger.
Even domesticated Purple Swamphens retain their “aggressive” nature towards strangers. When a stranger enters their territory or if they are provoked, they will jump and kick while making loud calls. This is why they are often considered to have a very “short temper” and can effectively guard homes like dogs.
Previously, Purple Swamphens were commonly found in the flooded fields of the Northern Delta, the Mekong Delta, and the plains of the Mekong River. However, their numbers in the wild are decreasing, and they are becoming rare.
