Adult (illustration by John Gerrard Keulemans {1842-1912}, now within the Public Domain, Source: Extinct Birds by Lionel Walter Rothschild{1868-1937})
Lord Howe Swamphen (Porphyrio albus)
Other names: White Gallinule, Notornis alba, Fulica alba
Length: Unknown
Location: Lord Howe Island (Australia)
Habitat: Wetlands
Diet: Probably carnivorous (chicks, etc)
Description: The overall plumage was white or off-white with some blue feathering to the flanks. The legs were orange-pink as was the thick, short pointed bill. The head showed a pink-orange shield to the forehead. The white tail was short and pointed. It had shorter and more robust legs, and a more robust bill than the extant Purple Swamphen
Reason for extinction: Hunted for food (by whalers and sailors)
Year of extinction: Between it's discovery in 1790 and 1834
Facts: Some reports suggested a few specimens of the Lord Howe Swamphen were all blue, but these may have been specimens of the other similar species present, the Purple Swamphen
The Lord Howe Swamphen was flightless, making it easy to capture and kill.
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