English: Purple Heron
Russian: Рыжая цапля
German: Purpurreiher
French: Heron pourpre
Mongolian: Зээрд дэглий
Japanese:ムラサキサギ(Murasaki-sagi)

Body length: 70-90 cm
Wing span: 120-138 cm

Status: Rare species. According to the IUCN Red List Categories and criteria, the species evaluated as-Near Threatened.

Distribution and range in Mongolia: Khalkh, Nomrog rivers valley, wetlands of the Buir lake, Tashgain tavan nuur lake (Buir lake, Khalkh river-Khyangan region), Bayan lake, estuary of Ulz river, Mongol Daguur and Ogii lake, Terkhiin Tsagaan lake. Recorded a pair nesting with 3 chicks in June 2003 near Buir lake of Khalkh river.

Habitat: Breeds in colonies at extensive, shallow swampy lakes with reedbeds. Forages in shallow water in gaps among reeds and along rivers, or more in open in wet meadows. Summer visitor, wintering in tropical Africa. Feeds on fish, frogs, insects. Nests in reeds or trees.

Identification: Big, lanky heron, usually quite dark-looking in the field. Main confusion risk is Grey Heron. Note the following differences: longer, more uniformly narrow bill; narrower head; wings in front view slightly bent at carpal, and hint of jerkiness in wingbeats; somewhat narrower neck, which in flight often forms more angular ‘neck keel’; longer toes, sometimes held more splayed and disarranged; slightly smaller size.

• Adult: Head-sides and neck-sides reddish-brown, neck with distinct, thin black border. Back dark grey, wing-coverts uniform dark grey with purple-brown cast.
• Juvenile/1st-winter: Head and neck-sides, back and upperwings ochre-brown, upperparts mottled (feather centres dark, fringes ochre), dark margins along neck-side indistinct. 1st-summer: Neck and back almost as adult, but wings still variegated brown.

Population and Threats: Global population is 270.000-570.000, breeding grounds spread over 22.400.000km2 territory. In Mongolia, inadequate information on population and threats data. Range is limited.

Conservation Measures: Included as Rare animal in the Annex to the Mongolian Government Resolution #7 (2012). Range is included within the Mongol Daguur, Nomrog Strictly Protected Areas, as well as included within the Buir lake and Terkhiin Tsagaan lake, surrounding wetlands Ramsar sites, according to the Ramsar Convention.

Further actions: Study is distribution, population abundance, reproductive biology and ecology research, protect reeds and vegetation cover in the nesting and breeding habitats, improve the conservation management, raise awareness.