A Purple heron in morning activity, including catching fish for breakfast. I spent quite a bit of time with these beautiful herons as I photographed them from my floating hide, as close and intimate as possible. The purple heron is a spectacularly beautiful waterfowl, known for his crimson-purple feathers and elegant length. He is considered one of the largest herons, and is characterized by a long and flexible neck that allows it to hunt fish, crabs and small aquatic creatures very efficiently. His habitats include swamps, lakes and river estuaries.