Prakruti Parichay
ArdeidaeArdeola

Indian Pond Heron

Ardeola grayli

42–45 cmLarge
Beak
—
Feet
—
Crest
No crest

Widespread resident; unrecorded in parts of NW and NE subcontinent. Whitish wings contrast with dark saddle. Adult breeding has yellowish-buff head and neck and maroon-brown mantle/ scapulars. Head, neck and breast streaked/spotted in non-breeding plumage. Usually solitary when hunting, but will gather in large numbers at drying-out pools to feed on stranded fish. Roosts communally. Tame and inconspicuous when perched, but flies up with a startling flash of white wings. Marshes, flooded paddy-fields, lakes, village tanks, ditches, lakes, mangroves creeks and tidal mudflats.

Colour

WhiteBuff / TanMaroonBrown
Average size
43.5 cm
Habitat
Marshes, flooded paddy-fields, lakes, village tanks, ditches, lakes, mangroves creeks and tidal mudflats.
Behaviour
Widespread resident, unrecorded in parts of NW and NE subcontinent., Usually solitary when hunting, but will gather in large numbers at drying-out pools to feed on stranded fish. Roosts communally. Tame and inconspicuous when perched, but flies up with a startling flash of white wings.

About this bird

Widespread resident; unrecorded in parts of NW and NE subcontinent. Whitish wings contrast with dark saddle. Adult breeding has yellowish-buff head and neck and maroon-brown mantle/ scapulars. Head, neck and breast streaked/spotted in non-breeding plumage. Usually solitary when hunting, but will gather in large numbers at drying-out pools to feed on stranded fish. Roosts communally. Tame and inconspicuous when perched, but flies up with a startling flash of white wings. Marshes, flooded paddy-fields, lakes, village tanks, ditches, lakes, mangroves creeks and tidal mudflats.

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Indian Pond Heron is bigger than Asian Koel but smaller than Ied Harrier.

This bird

Indian Pond Heron

Ardeola grayli

42–45 cm