Javan 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 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)

Featured articles:

Featured reports: Mar 2022, Apr 2022, Jan 2023, Feb 2023, Mar 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):

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
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
External Links:

Conservation Status: IUCN Red List Page

Sound Recordings: xeno-canto Link

Wikipedia Entry: Wikipedia Link

eBird Species page: eBird (Javan Pond-Heron)

References:

BirdLife International. (2016). Ardeola speciosa. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22697138A93601050.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.). Javan Pond Heron. Retrieved on May 31, 2023 from https://singaporebirds.com/species/javan-pond-heron.