The Purple Heron has a wingspan typically ranging from 120 to 150 centimeters, with a body length between 78 and 90 centimeters, and weighs between 499 grams and 1,361 grams. Both male and female Purple Herons look similar. Adult Purple Herons generally have a light grayish-purple body with variations of black, brown, and white. They feature black stripes running down each side of their brownish neck, from each eye to the crown. The crown itself is black, while the foreneck and chin are white. Their ventral breast is dark brown, transitioning into a black stomach and tail. The upperwing feathers are light gray, while the underwing feathers are dark brown. They have chartreuse-colored eyes and yellow bills with a brown culmen and tip, which become brighter during the breeding season. Juvenile Purple Herons are brown with a small amount of black on the crown and nape. They lack the long black stripes along the neck that adults have. Purple Heron chicks are brown with white-tipped upper parts. Purple Herons are often mistaken for Grey Herons (Ardea cinerea), but they are slightly smaller, have darker feathers (especially darker gray backs), and appear to have a more slender build. Grey Heron chicks can be distinguished from Purple Heron chicks because they lack the white tips on their upper parts.