Australasian Swamphens are found throughout the less arid parts of Australia and on nearby islands, including New Zealand. Swamphens are large Rails – wetland birds that occupy wide variety of fresh and brackish habitats and remind my strongly of their dinosaur ancestors. They are primarily vegetarian but are also omnivorous and take a variety of invertebrate and vertebrate prey, including the eggs and nestlings of other birds. Australasian Swamphens are commonly seen feeding by the edge of Herdsman Lake, grazing on the lawns and using their bills to cut off grass leaves or extract pith from rushes and to extract tubers and other food. They often use their feet to grasp and manipulate food. This Velociraptor-like Swamphen chick was grazing near its parents, and then rushed over to one of them to be fed.
