Purple Heron

Ardea purpurea

A stealthy stalker of reeds and marshes, this tall wader brings a splash of royal colour to wetlands worldwide.

Visual Identification

Appearance

The Purple Heron is a tall, slender wading bird with distinctive colouration. Its long neck and body are primarily purplish-grey, with a darker back and wings. The head features a black crown and crest, with a striking black stripe extending down the neck.

Both sexes look primarily similar, with females generally smaller, sometimes lighter, and paler. There are no significant seasonal changes in plumage.

Juveniles have a more muted plumage, lacking the vibrant purple tones of adults. They display a rufous-brown colouration with streaked necks and underparts.

Size

Length

78cm to 90cm

Wingspan

120cm to 150cm

Weight

500g to 1.4kg

Colours

Males and females have similar plumage

Primary Colour

Purple Grey Brown

Secondary Colour

Rufous White

Beak Colour

Yellow

Leg Colour

Yellow Brown

Habitat and Distribution

Habitats

Woodland

The Purple Heron is not typically found in Woodland habitats.

Garden

The Purple Heron is not typically found in Garden habitats.

Wetland

The Purple Heron can be found in Wetland habitats.

Coastal

The Purple Heron is not typically found in Coastal habitats.

Urban

The Purple Heron is not typically found in Urban habitats.

Farmland

The Purple Heron is not typically found in Farmland habitats.

Grassland

The Purple Heron is not typically found in Grassland habitats.

Desert

The Purple Heron is not typically found in Desert habitats.

Tundra

The Purple Heron is not typically found in Tundra habitats.

Rainforest

The Purple Heron is not typically found in Rainforest habitats.

Mountain

The Purple Heron is not typically found in Mountain habitats.

Savanna

The Purple Heron is not typically found in Savanna habitats.

Distribution

Purple Herons inhabit freshwater and brackish wetlands, including marshes, reedbeds, and the edges of lakes and slow-moving rivers. They are widely distributed across Europe, Africa, and Asia, with populations extending from Spain to Southeast Asia.

In Europe, they are summer visitors to countries like France, Spain, and Italy. Small breeding numbers have been reported in the UK, primarily in southeast England. Many European birds migrate to Africa during winter, while Asian populations move to warmer southern regions.

Elevation Range

Up to 1,800 meters

Climate zones

Tropical, Subtropical, Temperate

Distribution Map

This map gives you a rough idea of where you might spot a Purple Heron. The coloured areas show countries where these birds have been seen.

A few things to keep in mind:

Birds might not be everywhere in the coloured areas, for example, they may be present around the coast of that country
Where birds live can change with seasons and available food
This map is quite simple - it doesn't show exact locations

We're working on making our maps even better! Soon, we hope to show you:

More detailed maps for bigger countries, including state and region
How birds move around during different seasons