Ardeola grayii (Sykes, 1832)

A very small Heron, the commonest of its family in India, found by every piece of water ; it escapes notice by its dingy coloration until it springs to life with a flash of white wings.

A widespread and common egret-like bird. In the breeding season it has a yellowish-buff head and neck with a long white crest. The mantle and scapulars are brown with maroon plumes on its back. The non-breeding plumage is predominantly earthy brown with head, neck and breast streaked with white. In flight, the white wings, tail and rump are prominent, in contrast to the dark saddle. It can be found wherever there is freshwater no matter how small, and it is often found in areas of habitation. It is usually seen singly or in loose groups. Its flight is typically heron-like: steady wing beats with the neck pulled in. It feeds on frogs, fish, crabs and insects, standing hunched up at the water’s edge watching patiently for movement, and then jabbing quickly at its prey. If wading into shallows it will move forward stealthily, neck craned and bill poised. The call is a harsh croak made when it is flying off, but when nesting it also utters a low note waku and other mumblings.

The season is from May to September in most parts of India ; November to January in the south. Pond Herons nest in colonies in association with other egrets and Night Herons. The nests are untidy twig structures of the crow type, built in large trees such as tamarind and mango, often growing in the midst of towns and villages and not necessarily close to water. The same trees are tenanted year after year.. A normal clutch consists of 3 to 5 pale greenish-blue eggs.

In the main a resident species it is locally migratory.

Length 18 inches. Slightly smaller than the Cattle Egret.

An egret-like bird with the plumage mostly white but effectively concealed, while at rest, under a camouflaging buff-streaked earthy-brown mantle. In flight the white wings, tail, rump and underparts flash conspicuously. In the breeding season the back becomes maroon— covered with dainty hair-like plumes—and a long white occipital crest is developed. Sexes alike.

The Pond Heron or Paddy Bird is an abundant and familiar species, found wherever there is water in any form - river, jheel, tank, inundated paddy field, puddle or ditch, seashore, tidal creek or mangrove swamp. It is also found at kutcha wells and temple ponds, often in the heart of populous cities, and is especially partial to drying-up village tanks on whose margins large numbers collect to feed on the fast concentrating frog population. The birds stand hunched up and inert on the squelchy mud or in the shallow water at the edge, head drawn in between the shoulders. In reality however, they are wide awake and watching intently all the while for any frog or fish that may blunder within range of the long extensile neck and spear-pointed bill. Sometimes they wade stealthily in, lifting each foot clear of the water and putting it down again circumspectly, neck craned forward and bill poised in readiness. Its food consists of frogs, fish, crabs and insects. Where not molested the birds become very tame, sitting by the water's edge or stalking unconcernedly within a few feet of the village dhobi banging his clothes or of the chattering housewives trooping down to the tank with their domestic pots. When alarmed, the bird rises up with a harsh croak and a sudden flash of its snow-white wings, and flies off with steady strokes in the typical heron style. Large congregations resort to favourite roosts in trees every evening.

Occurs singly or gregariously, by water.

Found wherever there is water;river,beels, roadside ditch,temple pond, etc.,often even in the midst of populous towns.

Red List Category & Criteria: Least Concern ver 3.1

IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern