Purple Heron

Purple Heron
Purple Heron
Purple Heron
Recordings 

Observations, notes, photos

Purple Heron engages patience, stealth and lighting strike speed to achieve a 5 out of 7 success rate (from what I observed at Jahra Pools Reserve in August 2013)

Mike Pope
03/09/2013 - 15:10
Scientific Name 
Ardea purpurea
Arabic Name 
البلشون الأرجواني
Kuwaiti name 
بو الخصيف
Family 
Herons - Bitterns
Width 
135.0 cm
Length 
80.0 cm
Least Concern

In Kuwait

Winter
Migrant
Summer
Frequent
Non-breeder

Information

Uncommon passage migrant. Rare summer and winter visitor. A reed-swamp heron, often seen in migrating flights, with up to 138 recorded in mid April 2008.
Where in Kuwait 
This species is often seen migrating overhead, but birds that do stopover can generally be found around reedbeds or sewage water or saline pools.
In the world 
Many Palearctic populations have declined primarily due to the draining of marshes but not enough to approach the thresholds for Vulnerable. Populations breeding in the western Palearctic are migratory and travel on a broad front between breeding and wintering grounds. African and tropical-Asian populations are largely sedentary however, occasionally making local dispersive movements.
Local threats 
Habitat degradation and indiscriminate shooting.