Purple Heron

Purple herons have a broad distribution across Africa, southern Europe, India, Southeast Asia, Indonesia, and parts of eastern Asia including Hong Kong. They favor shallow wetlands with dense emergent vegetation, especially reedbeds, marshes, lake margins, and slow rivers. Adults measure 78–90 centimetres, have wingspans of 120–150 centimetres, and weigh approximately 499–1,361 grams. Males and females look similar. Their slender form and elongated neck enable them to move and hunt within tall, closely packed vegetation (Animal Diversity Web).

Fish form the main part of the purple heron's diet, although other available aquatic and terrestrial animals are taken. Individuals usually hunt alone around dawn and dusk, standing motionless or wading extremely slowly through shallow, vegetated water before striking rapidly with the bill. Reproduction is seasonal and egg-laying produces helpless chicks. Both parents participate in caring for the young. Their preference for thick plant cover distinguishes their feeding behavior from that of many herons using more open shorelines (Animal Diversity Web).