Birdwatching

PURPLE HERON.


Much more dependent on reeds than Grey Heron. Secretive, often difficult to detect as it stands motionless on edge of reeds. Unlike Grey, often lands on tops of reeds, or in trees and bushes within reedbeds.

Smaller, slighter and narrower winged than Grey Heron, compared with which looks positively scrawny and rakish, long, dagger like orangy yellow bill appears as continuation of head, while neck long and snakelike,.

In flight, most obvious feature is deeply pouched, appearance of neck, visible even from behind as bird flies away. Feet orangy yellow, large and conspicuous, protrude prominently behind tail.





Tendency for body movement during downstroke of wings. Its call a Higher piched, quieter and more gruff than Grey. Plumage Adult at rest, looks dark purply grey above. Predominantly chestnut head anf neck and long black neck stripes should be obvious, allowing instant recognition. Note also chestnut patch at bend of wing, dark purply chestnut underparts and chestnut thighs in flight, purply grey wing coverts contrast much less with black remiges than on Grey, producing much more uniform impression at distance, chestnut neck dhould be obvious, but black neck stripes can be surprisingly difficult to detect.








Orher features include buff parches at carpal joint and reddish brown panel on underwing coverts, useful if bird seen from below, juvenile easily identified and aged by pale sandy brown upperparts, lack of prominent neck stripes and predominantly brownich crown, In flight, confusion with bittern, conceivable note latter's mottled pumage, thick neck (lacking neck bulge) and generally owl-like appearance. A tip MELANISTIC Grey Heron ...occasionally recorded should be relatively straight forward if careful attention paid to structural differences. I hope I have be of some help, for your identification on this beautiful Heron.