Indian Pond Heron
Ardeola grayii
The Indian Pond Heron (Ardeola grayii) is a common herons, egrets, and bittern found in 21 countries, weighing about 253 g. The Indian pond heron or paddybird is a small heron.
About the Indian Pond Heron
The Indian pond heron or paddybird is a small heron. It is of Old World origins, breeding in southern Iran and east to the Indian subcontinent, Burma, and Sri Lanka. They are widespread and common but can be easily missed when they stalk prey at the edge of small water-bodies or even when they roost close to human habitations.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
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.
What the Indian Pond Heron sounds like
Where it lives
When to see it
The Indian Pond Heron can be seen all year round, with peak activity in February. It is a resident species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify an Indian Pond Heron?
- Indian pond herons are stocky with short necks, short thick bills and buff-brown backs. Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is an Indian Pond Heron?
- The Indian Pond Heron is a medium sized bird weighing about 253 g.
- Where can you see an Indian Pond Heron?
- The Indian Pond Heron occurs in 21 countries, including India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bangladesh and Pakistan.
- What does an Indian Pond Heron sound like?
- You can listen to a field recording of the Indian Pond Heron on this page, contributed to xeno-canto under open licences.
- What birds look similar to an Indian Pond Heron?
- The Indian Pond Heron is most easily confused with the Squacco Heron, the Chinese Pond Heron and the Javan Pond Heron.
- Is the Indian Pond Heron endangered?
- The Indian Pond Heron is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the Indian Pond Heron for real
BeakBrain drills you on photos and calls until you can greet this bird by name in the field. Free to play, on any device.
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