Chinese Pond Heron

Chinese Pond Heron

Scientific Name: Ardeola bacchus

Malay Name: Pucung-Padi Cina

Chinese Name: 池鹭

Range: Found from the Indian subcontinent, China to Japan and winter to Southeast Asia.

Taxonomy: Monotypic.

Size: 45-52 cm

Identification: Indistinguishable from other pond-heron species when in non-breeding and juvenile plumage. Adult in breeding plumage has distinctive chestnut-maroon head, head-plumes, neck and upperbreast, white underparts and blacklish-slate mantle and scapulars.

Similar looking species: Indian Pond Heron, Javan Pond Heron

Habitat: Various wetlands like streams, marshes, ponds and open fields.

Behaviour/Ecology: Diet comprises fish, frogs, crustaceans and insects.

Local Status: Common migrant

Conservation Status: Least Concern (BirdLife International 2016)

Location: Pasir Ris Farmway 3, Lorong Halus, Bidadari, Bishan Park, Labrador Park, Kranji Marsh, Pasir Ris Park and other suitable habitats.

Featured articles:

Migrant bar chart (see more bar charts):

Chinese Pond Heron Ardeola bacchus
Estimated average number of individuals by week based on eBird data, Jul 2014 to Jun 2024
Peak week Apr 02-Apr 08
Early date 02 Jul 2022
Late date 28 Jun 2019
Bar chart not displayed for this species; pond herons are only identifiable when they are in breeding plumage, so a bar chart would not offer a proper representation of this species's abundance at different times of the year.
This species can only be separated from Indian and Javan Pond Herons when they are in breeding plumage, usually in April and May.
Chinese Pond Heron in breeding plumage at Pasir Ris Farmway 3. Photo Credit: Francis Yap
Chinese Pond Heron in breeding plumage at Pasir Ris Farmway 3. Photo Credit: Francis Yap
Presumably a Chinese Pond Heron in the initial stage of moulting to breeding plumage at Pasir Ris Farmway 3. Photo credit: See Toh Yew Wai
Chinese Pond Heron at Marina East Drive. Photo credit: Francis Yap

External Links:

Conservation Status: IUCN Red List Page

Sound Recordings: xeno-canto Link

Wikipedia Entry: Wikipedia Link

eBird Species page: eBird (Chinese Pond-Heron)

References:

BirdLife International. (2016). Ardeola bacchus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22697133A93600684.en. Accessed on 1 January 2023

Robson, C. (2014). Field guide to the birds of South-East Asia (Second Edition). Bloomsbury Publishing, London.

RECOMMENDED CITATION

Bird Society of Singapore. (n.d.). Chinese Pond Heron. Retrieved on July 15, 2025 from https://singaporebirds.com/species/chinese-pond-heron.

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