Purple Herons raising baby birds, 9/23/2012

This September a pair of Purple Herons built a nest and raised babies in Xiapu Village, Ilan County, Taiwan. When the news spread out, it became a hot event immediately. This is the first time I ever saw Purple Herons raising babies. Thanks to a birding friend who drove me to the site. Although Purple Herons are seen as rare in Taiwan, they bred every year recently.


The babies are waiting for the adult bird to bring foods back...














Video recorded at Xiapu Village, Ilan County, Taiwan, on 9/23/2012

Chinese name:	紫鷺
English name:	Purple Heron
Nickname:
Scientific name:	Ardea purpurea
Order:	Ciconiiformes
Family:	Ardeidae
Species status:	Species
Conservation status:	Least Concern
Migration status:	Passage migrants in Autumn and Spring, or wintering individuals in Taiwan
Frequency of appearance:	Rare in Taiwan
Foods:	Fishes, insects
Habitat:	Wetlands, swamps
Altitude:	Low altitude
Behavior:	Often appear alone in wetlands or swamps.
Characteristics:	General Characteristics: About 79 cm long. Adult is mainly dark gray. Neck is maroon. Bill and feet are yellowish brown. Head top is blueish black, with some thin crests. Side necks are covered with clear vertical black lines. The youth bird is dark brown, with no crest on head, and the vertical black lines on the side necks are unapparent. Summer plumage: Winter plumage: Similar species:
Breeding places:	Breeding in most of Europe, southwestern Russia, Central Asia, southeastern Siberia, northeastern China and eastern China. They breed in Taiwan every year recently.
Migration destinations:	Wintering in central and southern Africa, India, Sri Lanka, Southeast Asia, Indo-Pacific Islands, Taiwan and southeastern China.
Time photographed:	9/23/2012
Location found:	Xiapu Village, Ilan County, Taiwan
Sources:	Internet
Notes:

Other Purple Heron post.(click to view)