PURPLE HERON

Description:

The purple heron (Ardea purpurea) is a wide ranging species of wading bird in the heron family. It breeds in Sri Lanka, Africa, central and southern Europe, and southern and eastern Asia. 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.

Habitat:

The purple heron has a mostly palaearctic distribution and breeds in Europe, Asia and Africa.