Photo: Vivek Puliyeri / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Indian Pond Heron
Ardeola grayii
Indian Pond Heron (Ardeola grayii) — Herons, Pelicans & Ibises of Europe & Northern Asia.
Found across 8 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Indian Pond Heron (Ardeola grayii) is a member of the Ardeidae family found in Europe & Northern Asia and South & Southeast Asia. Adults weigh 253 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Pelecaniformes
- Family Ardeidae Herons, Bitterns
- Genus Ardeola
- Species grayii
Quick facts
- Weight
- 253 g
- Diet
- Aquatic hunters
- Family
- Ardeidae
- Order
- Pelecaniformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Indian Pond Heron hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Behaviour
A bird of wetlands, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Indian Pond Heron is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
The Indian Pond Heron (Ardeola grayii) is a species of bird in the Ardeidae family, part of the order Pelecaniformes. It is found across Europe & Northern Asia and South & Southeast Asia. Its distribution covers PAL, OR Persian Gulf to Myanmar and Maldives.
It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 253 g, with a wing length of about 20.7 cm and a tail of around 7.4 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 3.3 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Indian Pond Heron?
The Indian Pond Heron is a large bird that weighs around 253 g.
Where does the Indian Pond Heron live?
The Indian Pond Heron is found across Europe & Northern Asia and South & Southeast Asia with a range covering PAL, OR Persian Gulf to Myanmar and Maldives, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the Indian Pond Heron belong to?
The Indian Pond Heron (Ardeola grayii) belongs to the Ardeidae family, in the order Pelecaniformes.
What does the Indian Pond Heron eat?
The Indian Pond Heron hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Does the Indian Pond Heron migrate?
The Indian Pond Heron is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
Is the Indian Pond Heron endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Indian Pond Heron make?
1 real field recording of the Indian Pond Heron — including its alarm call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Indian Pond Heron's range?
The Indian Pond Heron has a mapped global range of about 3.3 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
Explore more birds
More in Ardeidae
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
More in Herons, Pelicans & Ibises
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Endangered
Extinct