purple heron

noun

an Old World heron, Ardea purpurea, having maroon, buff, and black plumage.

Origin of purple heron

¹

First recorded in 1830–40

Words Nearby purple heron

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use purple heron in a sentence

The purple heron (Ardea purpurea) has the same habits as the one just spoken of, but it is a little smaller.
Reptiles and Birds | Louis Figuier

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