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
