Chinese Pond Heron

Chinese Pond Heron
Breeding plumage
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Pelecaniformes
Family:	Ardeidae
Genus:	Ardeola
Species:	Ardeola bacchus

The Chinese Pond Heron (Ardeola bacchus) is a species of pond heron found in East Asia. It migrates to South China, Southeast Asia and even as far as the Philippines.

Appearance

It is a 47 cm long stocky pond heron with a short neck. Non-breeding birds (migrating pond herons are less likely to be seen in breeding plumage) are streaked brown on their head, neck and breast with brown upperparts. Non breeding birds are indistinguisable from other non breeding species of pond herons. Their wings are white, common with other pond herons. Their bill is yellowish with a black tip, with yellow facial skin and legs (breeding birds have slightly more intense yellow). Breeding birds are similar, but are coloured chestnut maroon on head, neck and breast. Male pond herons have black plumes on their backs.

Behaviour

They are a relatively shy species, just like other pond herons, and flush (get frightened) from quite a distance if a photographer isn't careful. They are usually found in wetlands, beside large rivers and sometimes found in marshes and fields close to rivers. They usually feed alone or in pairs, alerting one another if a potential threat is spotted.

This species feeds like other herons, stabbing aquatic insects, fish and crustaceans out of the water. They also wait on riverbanks for prey.

This bird breeds throughout the middle of the year and lays 3-6 blue green eggs. Like most herons, both parents stay together for life.

Northern populations of pond herons migrate South to Southeast Asia during winter (November-mid April, though they start arriving in October). Late departing or early arriving birds may be in breeding plumages.

Status

Due to its extremely wide range from North China all the way to Southeast Asia and the Philippines, this species is often seen in its natural range, and even occurs in areas where different species of pond herons overlap (e.g. Singapore, where 3 species of pond herons occur, though the other 2 species are rarer), causing most non breeding pond herons to remain unidentified. This species was even sighted in Alaska in 1996, meaning that this species has vagrancy.

Similar species

• Javan Pond Heron
• Indian Pond Heron
• Squacco Heron

Gallery

A Chinese pond heron with partial breeding plumage (taken at Bishan Ang Mo Kio Park, Singapore).

The back of the same individual, showing long black plumes.

The full breeding individual with its eyes open.

Presumably a Chinese pond heron at Marina East Breakwaters, Singapore (note that its neck has small areas of maroon colouring).

The back of a non-breeding Chinese pond heron (presumably).