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Chinese Pond Heron
Length: 42-45 cm.
Wingspan:75-90 cm.

Chinese pond heron

(Ardeola bacchus)

Description:
The Chinese pond heron is a freshwater bird from the heron family and is commonly found in tropical and subtropical East Asia and China. When standing on the ground, it is well camouflaged, having brownish grey colored upper plumage. When flying, however, the white wings appear and the bird is easily seen. The eyes, the bill and the legs are yellow. It is a solitary bird, sometimes seen in pairs or small groups of 5 to 6 individuals. The pond heron is a migratory bird, spending the summers in East Asia and moving to China in winter.

Did you know...?

When pond herons slowly wade through shallow water, the yellow color of their feet attracts fish, which makes it easy for the heron to find food.

Diet:
The pond heron likes to feed on fish and crustacean, which it will hunt in shallow water. It will also eat any insects it stumbles across, either on the water surface or on shore and it also consumes small amphibians, worms and aquatic invertebrates.

Habitat:
The pond heron lives in freshwater wetlands, mangroves and tidal pools. It occurs up to an altitude of 800 meters above sea level.

Reproduction:
The pond herons nest in small colonies together with other heron species. Their nests are either high up in a tree or well hidden among the tall grasses in the water. The nests are built out of small twigs, leaves and grasses. The female will lay three to six blue‐green eggs and incubation time is 18 to 22 days. Male and female pond heron take care of the eggs and also both parents will take turns in feeding their offspring.

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