Purple Heron (Ardea purpurea)

OTHER NAMES: N/A

Latin Etymology: Ardea ("heron" - named for mythical town of Ardea) purpurea ("purple coloured")

                                                  Purple Heron (subspecies A. p. purpurea) at Arrocampo, Spain - April 2016

Featured Subspecies: Ardea purpurea purpurea

Weight: 0.5-1.35kg  /  Length: 88-94cm  /  Wingspan: 120-152cm

NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

The closest relation of the Grey Heron in Europe, the Purple Heron is however far more localised and secretive that it's grey cousin; a species of reed-beds found primarily in Mediterranean countries in Europe.  It is another widely distributed species however, found in addition to Southern Europe across India, South East Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa.  This is one of those species where the name doesn't necessarily make that much sense when examined; while there is a sort of purple quality to it if you squint at it, the more general impression is one of a coppery-orange and grey.

Related Species:
Order: Pelecaniformes
Family: Ardeidae
Genus: Ardea
Subspecies: A. p. purpurea, A. p. bournei, A. p. madagascariensis, A. p. manilensis

 - Sighting Locations -

CAMBODIA - Khmer Name: ក្រសាធ្នង់

A fairly common resident.

 - CAMBODIA/SINGAPORE 2019 TRIP: Several at Prek Toal

SINGAPORE - A fairly common resident

 - CAMBODIA/SINGAPORE 2019 TRIP: Seen at  Bishan Park

SPAIN - Spanish - Garza Imperial - ("Imperial Heron")

Widespread but local Resident

 - MADRID 2016 TRIP: Seen at Navaseca (2 individuals flying into reeds), Arrocampo (numerous) and Rivas Vaciamadrid (2 birds)

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto