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WetlandPlatform nestMedium · 266 g
ID tip
Malagasy pond herons grow to 45–50 cm (18–20 in) in height and anywhere from 250–350 g (9–12 oz) in weight. There is not a large variation in weight between the sexes as they are quite similar in bone body structure. feather, eye, and bill colour are determined by life stage (chick, juvenile, and adult) and reproductive status. The adults appearance can be split into the non-breeding plumage and the breeding stage. When the species is not breeding, the crown and the posterior are a colour mixture of buff and black with brown prominent over the other parts of the body. Voice: As they often hide in trees and shrubs at the sight of a human disturbance, distinguishing calls between species is often difficult. The Malagasy pond heron possesses two calls: a flight call and a burr call. The flight call has a duration of 0.5 s and is used at 5 second intervals as a means to keep distances between other birds in flight.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
When to see the Malagasy Pond Heron
One bar for each month. Filled bars are the 7 months with records; pale bars are months with none. The wide bar is October, the month with the most records.
Where to see the Malagasy Pond Heron
The map shades 10 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.
Recorded as a rare visitor in South Africa, Malawi.
About the Malagasy Pond Heron
The Malagasy pond heron, also known as the Madagascar pond heron or Madagascar squacco heron, is a species of heron of the family Ardeidae. They breed in Madagascar, Réunion and the Seychelles, and spend the non-breeding season in eastern mainland Africa. As of 2021, the population is estimated to number between 1,000 – 2,500 adults and the species is considered endangered.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Easily confused with
Rufous-bellied HeronArdeola rufiventrisThis is a small dark species of heron with a dark grey head, back and breast contrasting with a rufous belly, wings and tail.
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.
Chinese Pond HeronArdeola bacchusThe Chinese pond heron is an East Asian freshwater bird of the heron family, (Ardeidae).
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