Indian Pond Heron
Why in news?
- Recent citizen-science data from Visakhapatnam suggests that Indian Pond Herons, along with cattle egrets, may be undertaking regular seasonal journeys along the East coast of India.
- This new evidence revives a 30-year-old mystery about their migratory patterns, particularly data previously collected from Chennai.
- Also known as the paddybird or Ardeola grayii
- Widely distributed across the Indian subcontinent, including southern Iran, Pakistan, India, Myanmar, Bangladesh, and surrounding islands.
- Identifiable by its brownish buff and streaked plumage on the head and neck
- It is usually around 45 cm in length.
- Classified as Least Concern by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
