Indian Pond Heron

This species is defined as a Review Species . Please submit your records of this species via our record submission page .

Scientific Name: Ardeola grayii

Malay Name: Pucung-Padi Kelabu

Chinese Name: 印度池鹭

Range: Found from the Persian Gulf, Indian subcontinent to the Maldive Islands and winter to the Thai-Malay Peninsula.

Taxonomy: Monotypic.

Size: 45 cm

Identification: Indistinguishable from other pond-heron species when in non-breeding and juvenile plumage. Adult in breeding plumage has distinctive brownish-buff head, neck and breast with long white head-plumes, whitish throat and dark brownish-maroon mantle and scapulars.

Similar looking species: Chinese Pond Heron, Javan Pond Heron

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

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

Local Status: Rare migrant

Conservation Status: Least Concern (BirdLife International 2016)

Featured reports: Mar 2022, Apr 2022, May 2022, Mar 2023, Apr 2023

Past records in our database:

Showing only accepted records. Records currently under review are also not displayed. For a full list, click here.

Migrant bar chart (see more bar charts):

Indian Pond Heron in breeding plumage at Bidadari. Photo Credit: Francis Yap
Indian Pond Heron at Dover. Photo credit: Francis Yap
Indian Pond Heron in breeding plumage at Bidadari. Photo Credit: Francis Yap
Indian Pond Heron in breeding plumage at Bidadari. Photo Credit: Francis Yap
Indian Pond Heron in breeding plumage at Bidadari. 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 (Indian Pond-Heron)

References:

BirdLife International. (2016). Ardeola grayii. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22697128A93600400.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

Singapore Birds Project. (n.d.). Indian Pond Heron. Retrieved on May 29, 2023 from https://singaporebirds.com/species/indian-pond-heron.