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WetlandPlatform nestMedium · 253 g
What the Indian Pond Heron sounds like
ID tip
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.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
When to see the Indian Pond Heron
One bar for each month, and every month is filled: this bird is recorded here in all twelve. The wide bar is February, the month with the most records.
Where to see the Indian Pond Heron
The map shades 19 countries with regular records, and 2 more in a lighter tone where the bird turns up only as a stray. Everything unshaded has no records. Countries are listed below the map.
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.
Easily confused with
Squacco HeronArdeola ralloidesThe squacco heron is a small heron, 44–47 cm long, of which the body is 20–23 cm (8–9 in), with 80–92 cm wingspan.
Chinese Pond HeronArdeola bacchusThe Chinese pond heron is an East Asian freshwater bird of the heron family, (Ardeidae).
Javan Pond HeronArdeola speciosaThe Javan pond heron is a wading bird of the heron family, found in shallow fresh and salt-water wetlands in Southeast Asia.
Side by side: Indian Pond Heron vs Yellow-crowned Night Heron
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