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purple heron ( Ardea purpurea ) in flight, isolated over white

$L70-90cm, WS 120-138cm.\nBreeds in colonies at extensive, shallow swampy lakes with reed beds.\nForages in swallow water in gaps among reeds and along rivers, or more in open in wet meadows.\nSummer visitor (mostly Apr-Oct), wintering in tropical Africa.\nFeeds on fish, frogs and insects.\nNests in reeds or trees.\n\nThis is not a very common Heron in the Netherlands, but can be seen in numbers in the described Habitats.$

Purple heron at nest with chicks (Ardea purpurea)

A lone majestic looking Purple heron gracefully flying over a lake in day light. They are also called Ardea purpurea. called

A beautiful Blue Heron during the colorful fall season.

Purple heron (Ardea purpurea) in flight at Kazinga Channel, Uganda. Shot in Wildlife, Kazinga Channel, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Uganda.

Elegant Purple Heron, Ardea purpurea, gracing the wetlands of France with its distinctive plumage.

Purple Heron Flying Near Lake Indian Water Bird

A heron glides across a pond in Wichita, Kansas.

$Purple Heron (Ardea purpurea) adult in flight\n\nLagoa dos Salgados, Algarve, Portugal April$

$Grey Heron.\nThe grey heron (Ardea cinerea) is a long-legged wading bird of the heron family, Ardeidae, native throughout temperate Europe and Asia, and also parts of Africa. It is resident in much of its range, but some populations from the more northern parts migrate southwards in autumn. A bird of wetland areas, it can be seen around lakes, rivers, ponds, marshes and on the sea coast. It feeds mostly on aquatic creatures which it catches after standing stationary beside or in the water, or stalking its prey through the shallows.\n\nStanding up to 1 metre (3 ft 3 in) tall, adults weigh from 1 to 2 kg (2 to 4 lb). They have a white head and neck with a broad black stripe that extends from the eye to the black crest. The body and wings are grey above and the underparts are greyish-white, with some black on the flanks. The long, sharply pointed beak is pinkish-yellow and the legs are brown.\n\nThe birds breed colonially in spring in heronries, usually building their nests high in trees. A clutch of usually three to five bluish-green eggs is laid. Both birds incubate the eggs for around 25 days, and then both feed the chicks, which fledge when 7-8 weeks old. Many juveniles do not survive their first winter, but if they do, they can expect to live for about 5 years.\n\nIn Ancient Egypt, the deity Bennu was depicted as a heron in New Kingdom artwork. In Ancient Rome, the heron was a bird of divination. Roast heron was once a specially prized dish; when George Neville became Archbishop of York in 1465, 400 herons were served to the guests.$

$Great Blue Heron in flight heading to tree top nest.\n\nTaken in Elkhorn Slough, California, USA$

Oriental darter or Indian darter isolated on white.

The purple heron (Ardea purpurea) is a wide-ranging heron species. It breeds in Africa, central and southern Europe, and southern and eastern Palearctic

An adult purple heron (Ardea purpurea) in breeding plumage photographed in the reeds and in flight against a blue sky

$Purple Heron.\nThe purple heron (Ardea purpurea) is a wide-ranging heron species. It breeds in Africa, central and southern Europe, and southern and eastern Palearctic. The Western Palearctic populations migrate between breeding and wintering habitats whereas the African and tropical-Asian populations are primarily sedentary, except for occasional dispersive movements.\n\nIt is similar in appearance to the more common grey heron but is slightly smaller, more slender and has darker plumage. It is also a more evasive bird, favouring densely vegetated habitats near water, particularly reed beds. It hunts for a range of prey including fish, rodents, frogs and insects, either stalking them or standing waiting in ambush.\n\nPurple herons are colonial breeders and build a bulky nest out of dead reeds or sticks close to the water' edge among reeds or in dense vegetation. About five bluish-green eggs are laid and are incubated by both birds. The young hatch about four weeks later and fledge six weeks after that. The International Union for Conservation of Nature notes that the global population trend is downwards, largely because of the drainage of wetlands, but assesses the purple heron's conservation status as being of \$

Goliath heron a part of Israels wildlife

a purple heron Ardea cinerea in flight over cloudy sky

Blue heron landing in treetop nesting area near the Elkhorn Slough.

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