Purple Heron

Purple heron shaking off its beak after striking at a fish. Bharatpur, Rajasthan, India. 

About the Purple Heron:

Purple herons (Ardea purpurea) are a species of wading bird in the heron family, Ardeidae. Their scientific name  comes from Latin ardea “heron”, and purpureus, “coloured purple”. They have a wide breeding range and can be found in Africa, Europe, and Southern Asia. 

They are similar in appearance to the larger and much more common grey heron but they are more slender with distinctive dark plumage. Like other herons they are opportunistic predators and hunt for a wide range of prey including rodents, frogs, fish and insects, either stalking them or waiting in ambush. Purple herons breed in large colonies and build their nests close to the water in dense vegetation or reed beds. 

You can find more about Purple Herons here.