Purple Heron
NamePurple Heron
Common NamePurple Heron
Scientific NameArdea purpurea
FamilyArdeidae
Wingspan (cm)130
Length (cm)80
Weight (g)900
Plumage DetailsAdults have a dark purplish-grey back and wings, with a rufous-chestnut neck marked by black stripes. The crown is dark, and the underparts are streaked. The bill is yellowish, often with a darker culmen, and the legs are yellowish-green.
Vocalization / CallVocalizations include harsh, croaking 'krek' or 'kraak' calls, especially when disturbed or in flight. They can also produce a deep 'frr-arrh' sound.
Primary Dietpiscivore
Primary Habitatswetland
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Geographic RangeWidespread across Africa, central and southern Europe, and southern and eastern Asia. Northern populations are migratory, moving to warmer regions for winter.
Identifying FeaturesLong, slender body and neck, S-shaped neck in flight and at rest, Dark purplish-grey and rufous plumage, Dark crown stripe, Yellowish bill and legs, Often skulks in dense reedbeds
Description
The Purple Heron is a large wading bird characterized by its slender body and S-shaped neck. It typically inhabits dense reedbeds and wetlands, where it hunts for fish and other aquatic prey. The bird in the image is seen attending to its chicks in a nest.
