Chinese Pond Heron - Bangkok March 2020 (1 Viewer)

Dear members and bird watchers!

I should have been in USA/ Canada doing bird watching now, but due to the virus I have to stay home in Bangkok. And social distancing and bird watching is perfect. I was in my park 24 March and I took a picture of a Pond Heron Picture #1

Picture #2 taken in Bangkok, same park exactly 2 years ago, 24th of March 2018. In full breeding plumage. The first picture from 24 March 2020 we can see that the bird is in eclipse, not ready on the throat and top of the head.

The Pond Heron was together with another Pond Heron that, at least I could not see any signs of it getting in to breeding plumage.

Now I have a question and I would be very happy if someone would be kind to answer my question below

How long is the time span between different individuals to reach full breeding plumage?

Kind regards and happy birding
Aladdin

Aladdin said:

How long is the time span between different individuals to reach full breeding plumage?
Aladdin

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An excerpt from the HBW
"First-summer plumage reported to be very similar to that of adult, albeit perhaps duller overall with some streaking on head and neck."
Jean

Jean FRANCOIS said:

An excerpt from the HBW
"First-summer plumage reported to be very similar to that of adult, albeit perhaps duller overall with some streaking on head and neck."
Jean

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THANK YOU!!!

Wow! Nothing about this in my book, only Juvenile and adult. So the last bird is one year old? Is the bird ready to have own babies this year?

This was very interesting to know. The bird in her/ his company looked like a winter plumage heron.

Thank you again
Aladdin

Aladdin said:

So the last bird is one year old? Is the bird ready to have own babies this year?

"I was in my park 24 March and I took a picture of a Pond Heron Picture #1"

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On this date, it can only be a bird in its second calendar year.
Jean

Jean FRANCOIS said:

On this date, it can only be a bird in its second calendar year.
Jean

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Thank you very much for the help

Kind regards and happy birding
Aladdin

Aladdin said:

happy birding
Aladdin

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Rather good containment! :C
Jean

The moult date is quite variable, and as mentioned some (presumably) first summer birds are less bright, and probably also moult later.
From birds that I see in Hong Kong I would say that your brighter bird is relatively advanced into breeding plumage - most birds are not yet this bright (although some are brighter). Some are only just starting moult (as your duller bird is), and from memory I think that a few do not reach breeding plumage until about May.

johnallcock said:

The moult date is quite variable, and as mentioned some (presumably) first summer birds are less bright, and probably also moult later.
From birds that I see in Hong Kong I would say that your brighter bird is relatively advanced into breeding plumage - most birds are not yet this bright (although some are brighter). Some are only just starting moult (as your duller bird is), and from memory I think that a few do not reach breeding plumage until about May.

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According to Demongin's Identification Guide to Birds in the Hand (2016) adult Squacco Heron undergoes a pre-breeding body moult spanning Dec-May which may only involve ornamental feathers, a regime which is likely to be very similar to other Ardeola spp., with the exception perhaps of Malagasy and nominate Javan Pond Herons. There is no information regarding individual duration.

Grahame

Grahame