The purple heron (Ardea purpurea) is a wide-ranging heron species. It breeds in Africa, central and southern Europe, and southern and eastern Palearctic. The Western Palearctic populations migrate between breeding and wintering habitats whereas the African and tropical-Asian populations are primarily sedentary, except for occasional dispersive movements.
It is similar in appearance to the more common grey heron but is slightly smaller, more slender and has darker plumage. It is also a more evasive bird, favouring densely vegetated habitats near water, particularly reed beds. It hunts for a range of prey including fish, rodents, frogs and insects, either stalking them or standing waiting in ambush.
Purple herons are colonial breeders and build a bulky nest out of dead reeds or sticks close to the water' edge among reeds or in dense vegetation. About five bluish-green eggs are laid and are incubated by both birds. The young hatch about four weeks later and fledge six weeks after that. The International Union for Conservation of Nature notes that the global population trend is downwards, largely because of the drainage of wetlands, but assesses the purple heron's conservation status as being of "least concern".
^BirdLife International (2019). "Ardea purpurea". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2019: e.T22697031A154816177. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-3.RLTS.T22697031A154816177.en. Retrieved 11 November 2021.
The purpleheron (Ardea purpurea) is a wide-ranging heron species. It breeds in Africa, central and southern Europe, and southern and eastern Palearctic...
blue heron and the purpleheron (Ardea purpurea). The Australian white-faced heron is often incorrectly called a grey heron. In Ireland, the grey heron is...
sea urchin from Mexico. A purpleheron in flight (South Africa). A purple finch (North America). The Lorius domicella, or purple-naped lory, from Indonesia...
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purple in Latin, may refer to: 8585 Purpurea, an asteroid Purpleheron, Ardea purpurea Echinacea purpurea, the eastern purple coneflower or purple coneflower...
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Veterinary and Animal Sciences. Murals Asiatic lion Pink-backed pelican Purpleheron Indian crested porcupine Indian peafowl Thrissur Zoological Park Wildlife...
Magadi wetlands. The following bird species were also observed: Grey Heron, PurpleHeron, Comb Duck, Oriental Ibis, White Breasted Water Hen, Greater Flamingo...
favorable area for resident and winter migratory birds like night heron, grey heron, purpleheron, great white egret, little egret, mallard, gadwal, pintail...
alba), egret, little grebe, little cormorant, purpleheron, oriental darter, spotted dove, bulbul, night heron, Indian spot-billed duck, sandpiper and whistling...
shrew, and birds such as great bittern, purpleheron, European spoonbill, water rail (and other rails), purple gallinule, marsh harrier, various warblers...
Great egret Casmerodius albus- Breeding plumage at Sultanpur. Purpleheron at Sultanpur Purple swamphens at Sultanpur. Yellow-footed green pigeon Treron phoenicoptera-...
minutus Gray heron, Ardea cinerea Purpleheron, Ardea purpurea Great egret, Ardea alba Little egret, Egretta garzetta Western reef-heron, Egretta gularis...
birds, including river lapwing, great crested grebe, Indian cormorant, purpleheron, Eurasian wigeon, common shelduck, cotton teal, tufted duck, little ringed...
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