Bird Guide

Indian Pond Heron vs Yellow-crowned Night Heron

Indian Pond Heron (Ardeola grayii)

Indian Pond Heron

Ardeola grayii

Medium253 gWetland

Indian pond herons are stocky with short necks, short thick bills and buff-brown backs. In summer, adults have long neck feathers. Their appearance is transformed from dull colours when they take to flight and the white of the wings makes them very prominent. They are very similar to the squacco herons, Ardeola ralloides, but darker backed. To the east of their range, they are replaced by the Chinese pond herons, Ardeola bacchus. During the breeding season, there are records of individuals with red legs.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Recording: Sudipto Roy · CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Abhimanyu.A · CC BY 4.0
Yellow-crowned Night Heron (Nyctanassa violacea)

Yellow-crowned Night Heron

Nyctanassa violacea

Large682 gCoastal

Voice: The most common call of the yellow-crowned night heron is a loud, sharp and quick squawk that the bird gives shortly after taking off or uses as an alarm call or an aggression call. The young beg for food with a soft chu-chu-chu call that becomes louder as the chicks grow older and more demanding. A different range of vocalizations plays an important part in courtship and pair formation.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Ianaré Sévi · CC BY 3.0

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Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: Indian Pond Heron and Yellow-crowned Night Heron.