The eastern purple heron (Ardea purpurea) has a long neck and bill, with a reddish-brown head and neck, and a dark stripe down the back of the neck. Its mantle is oily brown, while the upper parts and tail are brownish-grey. The belly is black. A large wading bird that breeds in Africa, southern Europe, and southern and eastern Asia, it is similar to the grey heron but is smaller, more slender, and has darker reddish-brown plumage. The eastern purple heron's habitat is defined by wetlands with reeds, such as marshes, river edges, and swamps, where it can stalk prey like fish and frogs. It is found primarily in southern and eastern Asia, extending from the Indian subcontinent to eastern China and the Philippines, while the western race breeds across central and southern Europe, North Africa, and parts of Asia.
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