Pond herons are stocky with a short neck, short thick bill, a buff or brownish back and a colored or streaked fore-neck and breast. The Indian pond heron is one of six species of pond heron. It is found in eastern Pakistan, India, Myanmar, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.
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| Indian pond heron in non-breeding plumage in Udawalawe NP. |
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| Non-breeding plumage in Yala NP. |
Their dull colors become more flashy when they fly and reveal their white wings. In breeding season they look quite different, they get a dark reddish/brown back that contrasts with a yellowish head, neck and breast. Some get reddish legs.
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| Breeding plumage at Kandy Lake. |
The distribution map shows them in the northern half of Sri Lanka, but I believe we some them in southern Sri Lanka as well, including Udawalawe National Park and Yala National Park.
For some reason, I always think of herons as being white. I'm surprised to learn these are herons.
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