The purple swamphen has been split into the following species:Western swamphen, Porphyrio porphyrio, southwest Europe and northwest Africa African swamphen, Porphyrio madagascariensis, sub-Saharan continental Africa and Madagascar Grey-headed swamphen, Porphyrio poliocephalus, Middle East, through the Indian subcontinent to southern China and northern Thailand Black-backed swamphen, Porphyrio indicus, southeast Asia to Sulawesi Philippine swamphen, Porphyrio pulverulentus, Philippine islands Australasian swamphen, Porphyrio melanotus, Australia, New Zealand, and Oceania