UKBirds

Purple Heron

Ardea purpurea

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.

The Purple Heron is a large bird, 78-90 cm (31-35 in) in length with a standing height of up to 94 cm (37 in) and a 120-152 cm (47-60 in) wingspan. However, it is slender for its size, weighing only 0.5-1.35 kg (1.1-3.0 lb). It is somewhat smaller than the Grey Heron, from which it can be distinguished by its darker reddish-brown plumage, and, in adults, darker grey back. It has a narrower yellow bill, which is brighter in breeding adults.