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Difference between revisions of "Purple Heron" - BirdForum Opus

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[[Image:Purple_Heron.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Photo by {{user|john-henry|john-henry}} <br /> Location - Valencia, [[Spain]]]]
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[[Image:Purple_Heron.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Photo by {{user|john-henry|john-henry}} <br />Valencia, [[Spain]]]]
 
;[[:Category:Ardea|Ardea]] purpurea
 
;[[:Category:Ardea|Ardea]] purpurea
 
'''Inlcudes: Cape Verde Purple Heron'''
 
'''Inlcudes: Cape Verde Purple Heron'''
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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.
 
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.
 
==Distribution==
 
==Distribution==
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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. Vagrant to [[Barbados]] in the [[Caribbean]]<sup>[[#References|[2]]]</sup>.
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[[Image:PURPLEHERON.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Photo by {{user|I4ani|I4ani}}]]
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A widespread Old World species. Has a patchy breeding range in the [[Netherlands]] and parts of [[Germany]], in north and central [[France]], and across southern [[Europe]] from [[Iberia]] to [[Greece]] and [[Turkey]], north to [[Ukraine]] and east to the Caspian and Aral Seas. Also breeds in [[Iraq]], and from [[Pakistan]], [[India]] and [[Sri Lanka]], throughout South-East [[Asia]], north to the [[Russia|Russian Far east]] and south to [[Java]] and [[Sulawesi]]. Breeds at a few sites in North [[Africa]], on the [[Cape Verde Islands]] and [[Senegal]] and more commonly in [[Madagascar]] and East Africa from southern [[Kenya]] southwards.
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Western Palearctic breeders are mainly migratory and winter throughout sub-Saharan Africa, most other populations are resident although north-east Asian birds may vacate breeding areas in winter. On passage occurs throughout southern Europe and the [[Middle East]].
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Rare but regular passage visitor in very small numbers to [[Britain]] with about 20 records per year, mainly in southern [[England]] although there have been records north to [[Scotland]]. Also occurs as a rare migrant to other northern European countries and a vagrant north to [[Iceland]] and the [[Faroes]], [[Norway]], [[Sweden]] and [[Finland]].
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In the Atlantic recorded on the [[Azores]], [[Madeira]] and [[Canary Islands]]. The nominate race has also occurred as a vagrant in the [[Cape Verde Islands]]. Vagrant to [[Barbados]] in the [[Caribbean]]<sup>[[#References|[2]]]</sup>.
 
==Taxonomy==
 
==Taxonomy==
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[[Image:PURPLEHERON.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Photo by {{user|I4ani|I4ani}}]]
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====Subspecies====
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There are three or four subspecies:
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There are three or four subspecies<sup>[[#References|[1]]]</sup>:
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*''A. p. purpurea'' Linnaeus, 1766. [[Africa]], [[Europe]] north to the [[Netherlands]], and southwestern [[Asia]] east to Kazakhstan.
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*''A. p. bournei'': Paler than nominate. This race is not regarded as a valid subspecies by some authors but treated as a full species by others. It is, however, extremely rare with only nine nests found in 2002.
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*''A. p. 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.
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:*[[Cape Verde Islands]] (Santiago)
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*''A. p. madagascariensis'' Oort, 1910. [[Madagascar]]. Darker than nominate.
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*''A. p. purpurea'':
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*''A. p. 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.
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:*South West Palearctic to [[Iran]], [[Africa]] south of the Sahara and [[Cape Verde Islands]]
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*''A. p. madagascariensis'': Darker than nominate
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:*[[Madagascar]]
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*''A. p. manilensis'': Paler than the nominate race, with reduced neck stripes
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:*Southern and eastern [[Asia]], [[Indonesia]] and [[Philippines|Philippine Islands]]
  
 
==Habitat==
 
==Habitat==
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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.
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Shallow freshwaters with abundant vegetation, especially reedbeds, where usually breeds, also in mangroves in some areas. On passage and in winter in more open habitats, even grassland at times.
 
==Behaviour==
 
==Behaviour==
 
====Breeding====
 
====Breeding====
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''[[Media:Ardea purpurea (song).mp3|Listen in an external program]]''
 
''[[Media:Ardea purpurea (song).mp3|Listen in an external program]]''
 
==References==
 
==References==
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#Wikipedia
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#{{Ref-Clements6thAug15}}#Wikipedia
 
#[http://www.bioone.org/doi/pdf/10.1525/auk.2010.127.3.726 51st supplement to the AOU checklist of North American birds]
 
#[http://www.bioone.org/doi/pdf/10.1525/auk.2010.127.3.726 51st supplement to the AOU checklist of North American birds]
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{{ref}}
 
==External Links==
 
==External Links==
 
{{GSearch|Ardea+purpurea}}
 
{{GSearch|Ardea+purpurea}}

Revision as of 21:45, 18 July 2016

Photo by john-henry
Valencia, Spain
Ardea purpurea

Inlcudes: Cape Verde Purple Heron

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.

Distribution

Photo by I4ani

A widespread Old World species. Has a patchy breeding range in the Netherlands and parts of Germany, in north and central France, and across southern Europe from Iberia to Greece and Turkey, north to Ukraine and east to the Caspian and Aral Seas. Also breeds in Iraq, and from Pakistan, India and Sri Lanka, throughout South-East Asia, north to the Russian Far east and south to Java and Sulawesi. Breeds at a few sites in North Africa, on the Cape Verde Islands and Senegal and more commonly in Madagascar and East Africa from southern Kenya southwards.

Western Palearctic breeders are mainly migratory and winter throughout sub-Saharan Africa, most other populations are resident although north-east Asian birds may vacate breeding areas in winter. On passage occurs throughout southern Europe and the Middle East.

Rare but regular passage visitor in very small numbers to Britain with about 20 records per year, mainly in southern England although there have been records north to Scotland. Also occurs as a rare migrant to other northern European countries and a vagrant north to Iceland and the Faroes, Norway, Sweden and Finland.

In the Atlantic recorded on the Azores, Madeira and Canary Islands. The nominate race has also occurred as a vagrant in the Cape Verde Islands. Vagrant to Barbados in the Caribbean[2].

Taxonomy

Subspecies

There are three or four subspecies[1]:

  • A. p. bournei: Paler than nominate. This race is not regarded as a valid subspecies by some authors but treated as a full species by others. It is, however, extremely rare with only nine nests found in 2002.
  • A. p. purpurea:
  • A. p. madagascariensis: Darker than nominate
  • A. p. manilensis: Paler than the nominate race, with reduced neck stripes

Habitat

Shallow freshwaters with abundant vegetation, especially reedbeds, where usually breeds, also in mangroves in some areas. On passage and in winter in more open habitats, even grassland at times.

Behaviour

Breeding

It builds a nest made of sticks.

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.

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.

Vocalisation

The call is a loud croaking krek.
<flashmp3>Ardea purpurea (song).mp3</flashmp3>
Listen in an external program

References

  1. Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2015. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: v2015, with updates to August 2015. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
  2. Wikipedia
  3. 51st supplement to the AOU checklist of North American birds

Recommended Citation

External Links


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