Purple Heron
The back and the upper and lower sides of the wings are rather plain and monochromatic, but the breast has many ornamental feathers that create a pattern of the aforementioned colors.
The colorful Purple Heron
The back and the upper and lower sides of the wings are rather plain and monochromatic, but the chest has many ornamental feathers that create a pattern of the colors mentioned above. Another important feature is the orange eyes and the long light yellow beak, which is perfectly suited for fishing. Finally, the long black ornamental feathers on the back of the head, which form a pointed crest, should also be mentioned. The body size of the Purple Heron ranges between 75 and 85 centimeters, with the wingspan measuring 120 to 150 centimeters. Also important is the maximum weight of 1400 grams, which can vary depending on habitat and subspecies.
Distribution of the Purple Heron in Africa
In Africa, the bird is mainly found in the southern regions, but there are also smaller populations in East and Central Africa. Particularly worth mentioning here are the African countries: Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe and Transvaal, where the heron is most frequently encountered. In other parts of the world, such as Europe and Asia, the bird is also widespread, but here it only spends the summer for breeding and migrates to Africa in winter. The population on this continent, on the other hand, is sedentary and remains faithful to an area.
An important aspect of the habitat of these birds is the presence of standing bodies of water nearby where they can hunt for prey. This includes both large lakes and floodplains and even swamps. In some cases, Purple Herons can also be seen at watering holes or dams created by humans. The animals wait in the shallow water and strike at prey that appears with lightning speed using their beaks.
