About Ardeola speciosa (Horsfield, 1821)
The Javan pond heron, scientifically named Ardeola speciosa, is a wading bird that belongs to the heron family. It lives in shallow freshwater and saltwater wetlands across Southeast Asia. Its diet consists of insects, fish, and crabs. This species typically reaches 45 centimeters in length. It has white wings, a yellow bill with a black tip, and yellow eyes and legs. During the mating season, its overall body color is a combination of orange, slaty gray, and white. Outside of the mating season, it is brown with white flecks. Its non-breeding plumage is similar to that of the Chinese pond heron and Indian pond heron, and the three are almost impossible to tell apart when observed in the wild. Javan pond herons breed between June and September, and they are migratory. Because the species is widespread across its large range, it is classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
