Javan pond heron (Ardeola speciosa)

Blekok sawah or Blekok Jawa or Rice field heron or Javan pond heron (Ardeola speciosa) is a species of bird in the Ardeidae family, about 46 cm long, living around rice fields to eat eels, fish, crabs and insects. This bird has white, brown and black.

A. speciosa has a yellow and black beak on the tip. The head and neck are light brown, the chest is dark brown, the abdomen is white and the back is black. Long yellow legs. Blekok sawah has a small size in the Ardeidae family.

In the non-breeding period, the back color is browned. When flying wings look very contrast with a black back. These birds live alone or in scattered groups to make nests in tree canopies in large colonies with other water birds.

Nests are constructed from stacks of twigs on branches or leafy branches in tall trees around the water environment in urban and rural areas. This bird is accustomed to living side by side with humans. Females breed in December-May and January-August for 2 to 3 pale green blue eggs.

A. speciosa spends days around rice fields, rivers or freshwater swamps. Stand with low body position and head pulled to wait for prey. Every afternoon fly to the resting place with a slow flap, in pairs or three.

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Pelecaniformes
Family: Ardeidae
Genus: Ardeola
Species: Ardeola speciosa

Location: Ketingan Village, Mlati District, Sleman Regency, Yogyakarta Province, Indonesia.

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