Madagascar Pond-Heron (Ardeola idae)

Other Names (World)
Madagascar Pond-Heron, Malagasy Pond-Heron, Malagasy Pond Heron

Family
Ardeidae (Herons)

Size
45 - 48 cm

First Described (Guide)
(Hartlaub, 1860)

Habitat
Freshwater wetlands, in particular shallow waterbodies such as marshes, small lakes, ponds, ditches and rice fields, fringed with vegetation and adjacent trees.

Range (Guide)

Burundi (NB), Comoros (P), Congo [The Democratic Republic of the] (NB), Kenya (NB), Madagascar (B), Malawi (NB), Mayotte (P), Mozambique (NB), R�union (B) (NB), Rwanda (NB), Seychelles (B), Tanzania [United Republic of] (NB), Uganda (NB), Zambia (NB), Zimbabwe (NB).

Vagrant to Angola (NB), Somalia (NB).

Madagascar and Aldabra; migrates to central and eastern Africa.

Population
Estimated population is 2,000 - 6,000 (2010) and decreasing.

Status EN
Habitat loss through clearing, drainage and conversion to agriculture, exploitation of eggs and young, are the main threats.

For more information see BirdLife International Species Factsheet.

Habits
Singly or in small groups, often with Squacco Heron (Ardeola ralloides) or egrets. Nests in colonies with other herons.

Food
Fish, insects and small invertebrates. Also, frogs and small reptiles, including skinks and geckos.

Nest
A bulky structure constructed of twigs, located in a tree or bush, about 0.5 - 4 m above the ground, in or near marshes, lakes or ponds.

Subspecies
May form superspecies with Indian Pond-heron (Ardeola grayii), Chinese Pond-heron (Ardeola bacchus) and Javan Pond-heron (Ardeola speciosa).

No subspecies.

Similar Species
In non-breeding plumage, from Squacco Heron (Ardeola ralloides) by dark crown and streaky upperparts.

References
See References.

Files:

JPG files for Madagascar Pond-Heron (Ardeola idae) - 10 files

More Information

BirdLife International

For more information about the Madagascar Pond-Heron see... Show Articles

BirdLife International Species Factsheet.

Articles about the Madagascar Pond-Heron

If you would like to read any articles about the Madagascar Pond-Heron...

Show Articles (0)

No Pictures of Madagascar Pond-Heron

If Birdpedia has no pictures of Madagascar Pond-Heron or you would like to see more, then try the following...

Show External Images from BING

From BING (10)

No Videos of Madagascar Pond-Heron

If Birdpedia has no videos of Madagascar Pond-Heron or you would like to see more, then try the following..

Show External Videos

From BING (0)

Where can I observe this species?

Select an area (or leave blank) to see locations where this species has been recorded.

Area

All

Optional: Complete the following if you wish to restrict the reserve to within a given distance of a location.

Please enter the Latitude and Longitiude of a given location together with the maximum distance (km) to display a list of reserves within that distance. You must enter a Latitude, a Longitude and a distance greater than 0.

Latitude: (Decimal degrees takes precedence)

Deg	Min	Sec			Decimal degrees (Include compass setting or value)
				or	GPS help

Longitude: (Decimal degrees takes precedence)

Deg	Min	Sec			Decimal degrees (Include compass setting or value)
				or	Find GPS using Google Maps

Distance	Bearing
		Get Sample GPS readings

On What Field Trips was this species observed?

Select an area (or leave blank), and a date range, to see field trips on which this species has been recorded.

Area

All

From	To

Latitude: (Decimal degrees takes precedence)

Deg	Min	Sec			Decimal degrees (Include compass setting or value)
				or	GPS help

Longitude: (Decimal degrees takes precedence)

Deg	Min	Sec			Decimal degrees (Include compass setting or value)
				or

Distance	Bearing
		Get Sample GPS readings

Latest Sightings for Madagascar Pond-Heron