Javan Pond Heron
Ardeola speciosa (Horsfield, 1821)
Ardeidae — Herons, Bitterns
Javan Pond Heron, Ardeola speciosa, is a heron in the family Ardeidae that breeds across the Oriental Region from Thailand through the Philippines, the Sulawesi region and the Lesser Sundas. It is a wading bird of shallow freshwater and saltwater wetlands in Southeast Asia. In breeding plumage it shows orange, slaty and white, while outside the breeding season it is brown with white markings. Its non-breeding appearance closely matches the Chinese and Indian pond herons and is hard to separate in the field. It was described by Horsfield in 1821.
- Order
- Pelecaniformes
- Family
- Ardeidae — Herons, Bitterns
- Breeding range
- Oriental Region: Thailand through Philippines, Sulawesi region and Lesser Sundas
