purple purple wide ranging species bird family scientific comes latin coloured purple breeds africa central southern europe southern eastern asia populations migrate breeding habitats african tropical asian populations primarily occasional movements similar appearance common grey slightly smaller slender darker plumage bird favouring densely habitats near water particularly reed beds hunts range prey including fish frogs insects stalking standing waiting ambush purple colonial breeders build nest dead sticks close water edge dense vegetation bluish green eggs laid birds young hatch weeks later weeks notes global population trend downwards largely drainage wetlands purple conservation status concern description purple large bird length standing height wingspan slender size weighing somewhat smaller grey distinguished darker reddish brown plumage adults darker grey adults forehead crown head black dark stripe neck terminates slender crest shorter crest grey exceed sides head neck chestnut dark streaks lines neck mantle brown upper feathers elongated lower ones rest upper parts tail brownish grey neck paler sides elongated feathers base neck white chestnut black breast chestnut brown belly tail black brownish yellow long straight powerful brighter colour breeding adults iris yellow legs brown yellowish harsh high pitched grey generally noisy bird similar sounds heard robust appears somewhat hollow head neck slender snake like grey toes longer unlike bird adopts posture neck extending tend use stance taxonomy subspecies nominate found africa europe north netherlands southwestern found included authors treated distinct species found madagascar found asia pakistan east philippines indonesia north russia distribution habitat purple distribution breeds europe asia africa range western race extends southern spain north_africa eastwards southern eastern europe far lake separate population pakistan africa bird breeds east coast africa madagascar eastern race extends eastwards eastern china philippines northwards basins southern race restricted madagascar small population purple regarded separate race authorities august october birds western population migrate southwards tropical africa returning northwards march birds reported purple normal range return northern europe including britain eastern population largely resident birds northern range fly southwards korea thailand malaysia african birds resident purple inhabits marshes lakes surrounded dense vegetation frequent swamps coast usually chooses freshwater habitats particularly locations reed beds visits river banks ditches canals likely seen open arid slopes behaviour flight slow neck retracted legs extending long way tail characteristic distinguishes cranes extend flight secretive bird spending time open grey tending reed beds long toes mean walk floating vegetation walks bushes way making attempt grip branches seldom trees preferring terrestrial sites rest active dawn dusk birds middle day night increasing activity young feeds shallow water grabbing prey powerful wait prey slowly stalk victim diet consists mainly fish small mammals amphibians birds snakes crustaceans water insects spiders eaten terrestrial beetles insect prey followed water beetles aquatic larvae bees flies consumed purple usually breeds colonies nests solitary associates species grey multi species nesting colonies site chosen generally reed beds low bushes close large lakes extensive wetlands builds nest dead sticks available pulling material eggs bluish green averaging clutch usually eggs occasionally seven eggs laid large resulted females laying nest eggs laid intervals days begin egg start clutch complete parents share lasts days care young adult brings food dragged chicks food crop nest young food directly young weeks independent months disperse widely status estimated total purple world population probably decreasing slowly assessed conservation status concern rate decline insufficient justify rating threatened category chief threat bird faces drainage disturbance wetland habitats particularly destruction reed beds purple species agreement conservation african migratory applies
Purple heron