Despite its English common name, the purple heron actually has a chestnut-red head and neck with striking vertical black stripes, grey shoulders and outer-wings, and a rich chestnut stomach and inner-wings. The Spanish name for the purple heron is garza imperial, which translates as the ‘imperial heron’, perhaps a more suitable name for this vibrant-looking species. Its regal appearance is emphasized by the elongated golden-ochre beak, proportionally larger than most species of its genus . Its kinked, snake-like neck is coiled into an s-shape when in flight, and with longer toes than other similar species, the purple heron can wade over floating vegetation with ease. Although both sexes are similar in appearance, the female is lighter than the male. The juvenile heron is duller, with beige and brown chest, and it lacks the neck stripes and the extended plumage of the adult.

The purple heron is common throughout southern and eastern Europe, central and southern Asia, and Africa.

Length: 78 – 90 cm. Wingspan: 120 – 150 cm. Weight : 525 – 1345 g.

• Terrestrial
• Freshwater
• Marine

The purple heron inhabits wetland habitat such as swamps, reed-beds, rice-fields, and lake shores. It is found from sea-level up to an altitude of about 1,800 metres.

Usually feeding at dusk or dawn, the purple heron has a very varied diet consisting of fish, salamanders, frogs, insects, crustaceans, spiders, molluscs, small birds, mammals, snakes and lizards. It hunts by hiding in vegetation and waiting motionless until prey approaches.

Populations breeding in Europe, the Middle East and North Africa are migratory and travel between breeding and wintering grounds. However, southern African and tropical Asian populations are non-migratory. The purple heron migrates by day, typically in small groups, although in Turkey it is known to migrate in large groups of 350 to 400 individuals. Purple herons often nest alongside other heron species, such as the grey heron, in groups that typically do not exceed 50 pairs; however, a colony of 1,000 pairs has been recorded. Between two and eight eggs are laid, which are incubated for 25 to 27 days, and the fledglings reach independence at around 45 to 50 days.

Resident breeder, regular passage visitor and winter visitor.

Least Concern.

Due to its huge range, the purple heron is not currently considered to be globally threatened. Populations, however, are reportedly declining, mainly as a result of human-induced factors. The loss of its wetland habitat due to agriculture, drainage, pesticide use and reed cane harvesting has caused concern about some localised populations. Also, many flocks of purple herons are migratory and so are sensitive to changes in both their breeding and wintering grounds.