Purple heron

　This heron breeds only in Japan’s Yaeyama Islands, such as Ishigaki and Iriomote. It is named the Purple Heron due to its reddish-brown plumage tinged with purple on the neck and sides of the body. However, the subspecies found in Japan, Ardea purpurea manilensis, has a generally paler overall colouration with a more strongly greyish upperparts, leading me to wonder, upon first sight, why it is called purple? The Indonesian name Cangak Merah (Red Heron) seems to capture its characteristics more accurately.

　It has a wide global distribution, with four subspecies known. Although its broad range means it is not considered at risk of extinction, the subspecies Ardea purpurea purpurea, which breeds in Europe and winters in Africa, is the subject of conservation efforts due to the loss of its reedbed habitats. Furthermore, the endemic subspecies Ardea purpurea madagascariensis of Madagascar is considered vulnerable, while the endemic subspecies Ardea purpurea bournei of Cape Verde is estimated to have a population of fewer than 20 pairs.