From Opus

Photo by john-henry
Location - Valencia, Spain

Ardea purpurea

[edit] Identification

80-90 cm tall, with a 120-150 cm wingspan, weighing 0.5-1.3 kg. It is similar to the Grey Heron, but its plumage is a darker reddish-brown and the adults have a darker grey back. It has a narrower yellow bill, which is brighter in breeding adults.

[edit] Distribution

It breeds 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.

[edit] Taxonomy

Photo by I4ani

There are three or four subspecies:

• Ardea purpurea purpurea Linnaeus, 1766. Africa, Europe north to the Netherlands, and southwestern Asia east to Kazakhstan.
• Ardea purpurea bournei (de Naurois, 1966). Cape Verde Islands (included in purpurea by some authors, but treated as a distinct species Ardea bournei by some others). Paler than nominate. Extremely rare with only nine nests found in 2002.
• Ardea purpurea madagascariensis Oort, 1910. Madagascar. Darker than nominate.
• Ardea purpurea manilensis Meyen, 1834. Asia from Pakistan east to the Philippines and north to Primorsky Krai, Russia. Paler than the nominate race, with reduced neck stripes.

[edit] Habitat

Reed beds or trees close to large lakes or other extensive wetlands. Shallow freshwaters with abundant vegetation, especially reedbeds, where usually breeds, also in mangroves in some areas.

[edit] Behaviour

[edit] Breeding

It builds a nest made of sticks.

[edit] Diet

It feeds in shallow water, catching fish, frogs or insects on its long, sharp bill. It will often wait motionless for prey, or slowly stalk its victim.

[edit] Flight

Its flight is slow and in flight it retracts its neck. This is a characteristic of herons and bitterns; it differentiates them from storks, cranes and spoonbills, which extend their necks.

[edit] Vocalisation

The call is a loud croaking krek.

[edit] References

1. Wikipedia

[edit] External Links