Indian Pond Heron
Scientific name:
Ardeola grayii
; Size: 47cms
Description: This overall drab bird sports a brownish buff head and neck, buff brown breast, maroon back and white wings during the breeding phase. The non-breeding colours are a striped dull earthy-brown but the wings are conspicuously white in flight. Sexes alike.
Habits: Affects any stretch of water which may contain food. Patiently stalks and hunts prey which range from insects to fish from the waters edge. Usually wary. Roosts and nests communally in trees.
Habitat: Lakes, jheels, rivers, flooded fields, swamps, mudflats, mangroves etc.
Range: Widespread resident. Absent from the dry west.