|
|
|
Indian Pond Heron
(Ardeola grayii)
: "Paddybird"
Size: 45 cm; wing span 85 cm
|
|
 |
Similar
species |
|
|
 |
Physical description |
|
 Click here for a physical description
Indian Pond Herons are small herons with a long neck.
During the breeding season, adults have a head and neck,
with
nuchal plumes. The front, from the chin all the way to the
undertail coverts, is buffy-white to creamy. The
plumes on the sides are light-brown, those on the back are
very dark-brown with a violet hue. The eyes are surrounded by
a whitish to light-blue skin patch. The irises are yellow. The
bill has a light-blue base (half), with yellow in the middle
and a black tip. The legs and feet are yellowish-grey, in some
individuals also greyish-pink.
Non-breeding
adult and immature Indian Pond Herons have almost identical
plumage
(except for black tips on the primaries of immature birds).
The head is grey (possibly with a yellowish lower mandible);
the skin patch around the eyes is greyish-yellow.
Also the bill is all-grey. Head, neck and front are buff,
heavily streaked with brown. The back is greyish-brown.
When not breeding, the legs and feet are yellow to
turquoise-grey.
In-flight they are easily recognized by their prominent,
off-white upperwing plumage.
When in an erect stance, a Squacco Heron's neck is about as
long as the rest of the body.
 |
Twitcher's tip |
|
Non-breeding
adult and immature Indian Pond Herons are almost indistinguishable
from Non-breeding
adult and immature Squacco Herons.
|
 |
Taxonomy, classification |
|
See Indian
Pond Heron at Wikipedia  .
|
|
 |
Range, habitat |
|
Click here for information on habitat
and range
The overall distribution of this species can be assessed, and
specific locations where birds have been spotted can be found,
based on individual sighting reports submitted by birdwatchers to
ebird.org
.
The global distribution of the Indian Pond Heron is available
HERE
.
Indian Pond Herons populate India, Pakistan, Bangladesh
and the coastline of Burma and farther South, up to the
Maldives. Farther West they are found on the southern
coastline of Iran and on Musandam, the northern tip of
the Arabian peninsula.
In Oman Indian Pond Herons are found along much of the coastline,
from the Musandam peninsula, in the border region of Oman with the
UAE, along the North coast and also along the East coast, as far
to the South as the Salala area.
Indian Pond Herons are usually found in wetlands, and they are
sometimes content with very little water (especially outside
the breeding season) for temporary shelter and sources of food.
|
 |
Sightings |
|
Click here for sighting information
An Indian Pond Heron was first spotted by us in Oman at a few water
puddles in an otherwise dry riverbed (wadi) at Qurm, near Muscat,
Oman, in December 2009.
|
 |
Photos |
|
 |
ADULT |
|
 |
NON-BREEDING |
|
Dorsal view of an Indian Pond Heron in non-breeding
plumage;
note the absence of black tips on the primaries (which
would indicate a juvenile bird)
[Qurm, December 2009]
 |
Food, Diet |
|
All egrets and herons prey on aquatic creatures in fresh water or
estuaries (fish, frogs, snakes or crustaceans).
These pages are largely based on our own observations and those of our
contributors. The structure of these bird pages is explained HERE. For more salient facts on any bird species
please refer to a field guide.
Breeding
Nest
Eggs
Behaviour
Call/s
