Purple Heron

The purple heron resembles the grey heron, but is smaller, darker and far more secretive. Its plumage is a blend of grey, russet and purple, with dark streaks on the neck that camouflage it perfectly among the reeds. While the grey heron fishes in the open, the purple heron stays hidden in dense marsh vegetation and is rarely seen well. When threatened, it stretches its neck and bill straight up to mimic a reed stem — a disguise so effective you can walk past it at close range without noticing.