Page 85 - Complete Birds of Britain and Europe (DK - RSPB)

BITTERNS AND HERONS
Order Ciconiiformes Family Ardeidae Species Ardea purpurea
Purple Heron thin stripes
on face
steel-grey
midwing arched wings
patch narrow at base long, slim,
spear-like brown
bill body paler
neck
reddish underwing snaky head
and neck
ADULT
deep neck dark stripes on
IN FLIGHT bulge bright ginger
large neck
toes
dark back with
paler, buff plumes
dark reddish
shoulder patch
ADULT
rich tawny
underparts JUVENILE

FLIGHT: strong, steady, on arched wings with more
curved trailing edge than Grey Heron’s, neck creating
deeper bulge, larger feet sometimes obvious.
uch more of a reedbed bird than the Grey
MHeron, the Purple Heron is consequently
more difficult to see unless it flies over the reeds or
chooses to feed at the edge of a reedy pool. It
breeds in small groups, but is generally a less social
bird than most herons. It has often been predicted
that the Purple Heron will spread north and breed
in the UK, but this has so far failed to develop: it
remains a rather rare visitor north of its usual range.
VOICE Short, simple, harsh krekk.
NESTING Large pile of reed stems and other
vegetation, often in reeds, sometimes in trees; 4 or 5
eggs; 1 brood; February–June. FISHING
FEEDING Catches small fish, frogs, and aquatic A secretive bird, the Purple Heron typically waits patiently at the water’s edge
invertebrates in its long, slender bill. or strides through reeds in search of prey.
SIMILAR SPECIES OCCURRENCE
Generally more southerly bird
GREY HERON BITTERN than Grey Heron, absent from
thick see p.82 see p.75 stouter
neck bill N Europe. Typically in reedy
wider much marshes, tall sedge beds, and wet
stockier wings stockier meadows. Migrants appear north
and paler of breeding range in reedbeds and
much
stockier overgrown flooded areas.
Seen in the UK
M J JA SJ
JF M A A M JA S O ON D
Length 70–90cm (28–35in) Wingspan 1.1–1.45m (3 1 ⁄2 –4 3 ⁄4ft) Weight 1–1.5kg (2 1 ⁄4 –3 1 ⁄4lb)
Social Solitary Lifespan Up to 23 years Status Vulnerable
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