Purple Heron

Ardea purpurea

Other Pics: Purple Heron in Flight

Other Names

    Héron pourpré   Purpurreiher   Garza Imperial   Purpurhäger   Purperreiger   Airone rosso

World: Widespread through the western Palearctic, N Africa, Kazakhstan and Iran and through sub-saharan Africa. Also present in Madagascar, southern and eastern Asia, Indonesia and the Philippines.

Kenya: Frequents any water (including seasonal pools) that have a dense fringe of reeds or other vegetation. It is therefore absent only from the arid northern and eastern regions of the country.

This is a solitary, skulking bird which can be difficult to see. It is a passive feeder which remains motionless in its preferred habitat of dense vegetation, waiting for prey to approach. It feeds primarily on amphibians, fish, crustaceans and aquatic insects but it will also take small birds and mammals. Although it is solitary and territorial it nests in colonies in low shrubs or trees over water or in reed beds.