# Javan Pond-Heron (*Ardeola speciosa*) The Javan Pond-Heron is a beautiful bird that loves to live near water. It has a special way of changing colors depending on the season, making it look different throughout the year! - **Category:** [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/bird) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Wetlands ![Javan Pond-Heron](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Ardeola_speciosa.JPG&width=800) Photo: Ariefrahman, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ardeola_speciosa.JPG) ## Appearance The Javan Pond-Heron has a remarkable plumage change. In breeding season, it sports a striking white body, a golden-buff head and neck, and a contrasting chestnut-maroon back. Outside breeding, it appears drabber, with a brown-streaked head and neck on a whitish body, blending into its watery surroundings. Its yellow legs remain constant. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Aves - **Order:** Pelecaniformes - **Family:** Ardeidae - **Genus:** Ardeola ## Interesting facts - Baby Javan Pond-Herons are called "chicks" and are born without feathers. - Their sharp, pointed bill is like a perfect set of chopsticks for grabbing food! - These clever birds sometimes forage on floating vegetation like water hyacinths. - They often nest in colonies high in trees, even above busy streets! ## Special abilities - **Disappearing Act:** Javan Pond-Herons can change their feather colors dramatically for camouflage or to attract a mate, helping them blend in or stand out. - **Stillness Hunter:** Javan Pond-Herons can stand perfectly still for long periods, which helps them surprise unsuspecting fish and insects in the water. - **Flexible Fisher:** Javan Pond-Herons have an incredibly flexible neck that allows them to strike quickly and accurately at fast-moving prey. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 40-45 cm - **Wingspan:** 75-85 cm - **Weight:** 0.25-0.35 kg - **Lifespan:** 5-10 years - **Speed:** 35 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 2-5 - **Incubation:** 18-20 days ## Diet & Feeding They mainly eat small aquatic creatures like fish and insects, using their sharp beak to catch them. - **Primary Foods:** small fish, aquatic insects, frogs, tadpoles, crabs, shrimp - **Foraging Method:** Ambush ## Ecological connections - **Hunts:** [Guppy](https://www.snappit.app/explore/guppy) (*Poecilia reticulata*) — a common small fish found in its wetland habitats. - **Hunts:** [Wandering Glider](https://www.snappit.app/explore/wandering-glider) (*Pantala flavescens*) — catches adult dragonflies and their larvae in flight or water. - **Hunts:** Paddy Frog (*Fejervarya limnocharis*) — preys on these common frogs found in rice paddies. - **Eaten by:** White-bellied Sea-Eagle (*Haliaeetus leucogaster*) — larger raptors may occasionally prey on adult or juvenile herons. ## Traits - [Feathered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/feathered): Feathered describes animals, primarily birds, possessing a covering of feathers. - [Solitary](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/solitary): Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Piscivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/piscivorous): Piscivorous organisms are animals that primarily subsist on a diet of fish. - [Ambush Predator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/ambush-predator): An ambush predator hunts by patiently waiting and concealing itself, then launching a sudden attack when unsuspecting prey comes within range. - [Wetland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wetland): This habitat trait identifies species found in wetlands, which are areas of land saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally, including marshes, swamps, and bogs. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Endangered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/endangered): Endangered status indicates a species is at a very high risk of extinction in the wild in the near future. ## Collections - [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/birds) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always watch birds from a distance and don't try to touch them. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Javan Pond-Heron? Compare the silhouette, bill shape, tail length, wing bars and markings around the eyes. The same small brown bird at your feeder can look quite different in breeding plumage, winter plumage or its first year. Bird Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Javan Pond-Heron? 40-45 cm ### What is Javan Pond-Heron's wingspan? 75-85 cm ### How much does Javan Pond-Heron weigh? 0.25-0.35 kg ### How long does Javan Pond-Heron live? 5-10 years ### How fast can Javan Pond-Heron move? 35 km/h ### What does Javan Pond-Heron eat? They mainly eat small aquatic creatures like fish and insects, using their sharp beak to catch them. ### Where is Javan Pond-Heron usually found? Wetlands ## More Birds - [Black-crowned Night Heron](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-crowned-night-heron) (*Nycticorax nycticorax*) - [Anna's Hummingbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/annas-hummingbird) (*Calypte anna*) - [Great Egret](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-egret) (*Ardea alba*) - [Blue Jay](https://www.snappit.app/explore/blue-jay) (*Cyanocitta cristata*) --- Source: [Javan Pond-Heron: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/javan-pond-heron)