The
Purple Heron is a large bird; body length: 30-35 inches (78-90 cm), wingspan: 47-59 inches (120-150 cm). It is similar to a Grey Heron, but slightly skinnier: the males weigh 1.3-2.6 pounds (617-1218 g), while the females are a bit smaller: 1.1-2.5 pounds (525-1135 g). Their preferred habitats are lakes and fishponds, and they feed on water insects, fish, and amphibians.
Not surprisingly, the largest population of Purple Heron in Hungary nests in the expansive reedbeds of the
Lake Tisza region. They apparently spend their winters on the coasts of Tunisia and Algeria, then come back to Hungary and stay from April till September. They build tall nests of reed, and they raise 4-6 young ones per nest. They are a highly protected species in Hungary, and records covering the 1998-2001 period show a stable 900-1500 nesting couples.
Links
MME Monitoring Center – Birdlife Hungary:
Purple Heron
Birding Hungary
Hungarian Birdwatching
Article on Surfbirds.com:
Hungary - three day birding trip to western Hungary
Related articles
Lake Tisza
Part of the Hortobagy National Park, and a World Heritage site,
Lake Tisza is the second largest body of water in Hungary, and one of the most popular tourist destinations of the country.
...And it is also
the only Lake in Europe where you can speed around on powerboat and Jet Ski.
'The Birds and the Bees' of the Hungarian Great Plains
Life on the Hungarian Great Plains (
Alfold) is primarily supported by its main river, the Tisza. The river's surroundings form a suitable habitat for rare local species.
