Indian Pond Heron

Pond herons (Ardeola) are herons, typically 40 - 50 cm (16 - 20 in) long with an 80 - 100 cm (31 - 39 in) wingspan. Most breed in the tropical Old World, but the migratory squacco heron occurs in southern Europe and the Middle East and winters in Africa. The scientific name comes from Latin ardeola, a small heron (ardea).

Scientific Name : Ardeola

Family : Ardeidae

Order : Pelecaniformes

Class : Aves

Type : Bitterns, Herons And Egrets

Conservation Status : Least concern (LC)

Size : 40 - 50 cm

Compare Size : Hen +

Wingspan : 80 - 100 cm

Weight : 230 - 280 g

Migratory : Resident

Sex Alike : Yes

Nesting Season : May - September

Other Names :

English : Paddybird

Hindi : अंधा बगुला, बगला

Marathi : ढोकरी, वंचक, भुरा बगळा, कोक, खरबा बगळा

Habitat:
Marshy wetlands, Marshes, Streams, Paddyfields, Ponds

Breeding:
Eggs - 3 - 5, Pale greenish blue

Feeding:
insects, Fish and Amphibians


Identification Features

Male & Female
Neck short and thick
Bill short and thick, mostly black with a bitt of yelllow in middle
Back in Non-breeding plumage grey-brown; In Breeding plumage very dark-brown close to black
Neck in Non-breeding plumage streaked with dark-brown; In Breeding plumage buff-brown
Head in Non-breeding plumage streaked with dark-brown In ; In Breeding plumage buff-brown
Breast in Non-breeding plumage streaked with dark-brown; In Breeding plumage buff-brown
Wing In flight distinct white in wings is seen in contrast to its back
Lores in Non-breeding plumage yellow
Note :
appear stocky

Gallery

SIGHTINGS

Date Location
2018-10-27 27 Oct 2018 Bird Watching Area, Bhandup West, Mumbai, Maharashtra
2018-11-03 03 Nov 2018 Bird Watching Area, Bhandup West, Mumbai, Maharashtra
2018-11-14 14 Nov 2018 Bird Watching Area, Bhandup West, Mumbai, Maharashtra
2018-12-02 02 Dec 2018 Bird Watching Area, Bhandup West, Mumbai, Maharashtra
2018-12-16 16 Dec 2018 Bird Watching Area, Bhandup West, Mumbai, Maharashtra
2018-12-29 29 Dec 2018 Bird Watching Area, Bhandup West, Mumbai, Maharashtra
2018-11-04 04 Nov 2018 Shiravali Gaon, Raigad, Maharashtra
2019-01-31 31 Jan 2019 Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary, Rajasthan
2019-02-01 01 Feb 2019 Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary, Rajasthan
2024-05-01 01 May 2024 Diveagar, Maharashtra

Similar Birds

(Bitterns, Herons And Egrets)