Javan Pond Heron

Scientific Name: Ardeola speciosa
Malay Name: Pucung-Padi Emas
Chinese Name: 爪哇池鹭

Range:
Found from Southern Indochina to Indonesia and winter to the Thai-Malay Peninsula.

Taxonomy:
Polytypic. Subspecies are: continentalis, speciosa.

Size: 45 cm

Identification:
Indistinguishable from other pond-heron species when in non-breeding and juvenile plumage. Adult in breeding plumage has distinctive pale brownish-buff to creamy-whitish head and neck with white head-plumes, deep cinnamon-rufous breast, white belly and blacklish-slate mantle and scapulars.

Similar looking species: Indian Pond Heron, Chinese Pond Heron

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

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

Local Status: Uncommon migrant

Conservation Status: Least Concern (BirdLife International 2016)

Location: Pasir Ris Farmway 3 and Sungei Serangoon.

Photos:

Javan Pond Heron in breeding plumage at Pasir Ris Farmway 3. Photo Credit: Francis Yap

Javan Pond Heron in breeding plumage at Pasir Ris Farmway 3. Photo Credit: Francis Yap

Presumably a Javan Pond Heron in the initial stage of moulting to breeding plumage at Pasir Ris Farmway 3. Photo credit: See Toh Yew Wai

External Links:
Conservation Status: IUCN Red List Page
Photos: Oriental Bird Images
Sound Recordings: xeno-canto Link
Wikipedia Entry: Wikipedia Link

References:
BirdLife International. (2016). Ardeola speciosa. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016. Downloaded on 2 September 2021
Robson, C. (2008). A Field Guide to the Birds of South-East Asia. New Holland Publishers.