Purple Heron

The Purple Heron is a long-necked but relatively slender heron measuring 78–90 centimetres, with a 120–150-centimetre wingspan. Adults combine grey-purple upperparts with black, brown, and white markings. Black stripes descend from the eyes along the brownish neck, the crown is black, and the chin and fore-neck are white. The dark brown breast grades into a black belly and tail, while the eyes and bill are yellowish. Juveniles are browner and lack the adult's long black neck stripes. (Animal Diversity Web, Purple Heron account)

Purple Herons frequent shallow wetlands with extensive reeds or cattails, including swamps, river margins, ponds, rice fields, and some brackish lagoons. Usually hunting alone around dawn or dusk, a bird stands still or wades slowly before striking with its bill. Fish form the main prey, supplemented by insects, amphibians, molluscs, crustaceans, and small mammals. Nests are normally platforms among reeds over water. Clutches contain two to eight eggs, averaging 4.4, and incubation lasts 20–30 days; young can fly after about 40–50 days. (Animal Diversity Web, Purple Heron account)