Purple Heron

Ardea purpurea

Description:

The Purple Heron (Ardea purpurea) is a wading bird in the heron family Ardeidae, breeding in Africa, central and southern Europe, and southern and eastern Asia. The European populations are migratory, wintering in tropical Africa; the more northerly Asian populations also migrate further south within Asia. It is a rare but regular wanderer north of its breeding range. (Wikipedia)

Habitat:

This heron was hunting in the grasses on the edge of a river.

Notes:

This was my first spotting of a Purple Heron, so I was glad to get a nice shot of it.

Species ID Suggestions

8 Comments

FoTony 11 years ago

Thank you Ava, I hope so too :)

Ava T-B 11 years ago

I hope you get to spot one of these soon, FoTony!

FoTony 11 years ago

Very nice! This is one that is still on my list of birds I would like to spot.

Ava T-B 11 years ago

Thanks so much Seema! I'll keep your invitation in mind!

Seema 11 years ago

almost like blue heron..color is diff..
Hey Ava..there is a wetland Upper Newport Bay near our house..a major migratory bird site..they claim 30,000 birds can be seen any given day..I often visit that place
consider it an invitation..if you would like to visit..

nexttogone 11 years ago

Love the colors and markings!

Ava T-B 11 years ago

Thanks Emma, I loved my vacation in Spain! I need to put all these spottings into an Iberian mission I think I've already joined.
Sorry, don't know about saffron!

Hema Shah 11 years ago

nice! Did you enjoy your vacation to Spain?Marta Ruberio could help you out with Id,since she is from spain.
BTW any idea about the price of Saffron in Spain?