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