46 CMS.,ALSO CALLED AS PADDY-BIRD,THEY APPEAR STOCKY WITH A SHORT NECK,SHORT THICK BILL,AND BUFF BROWN BACK.IN SUMMER ADULTS HAVE LONG NECK FEATHERS.BREEDING INDIAN POND HERON CAN BE DIFFERENTIATED FROM BREEDING CHINESE POND HERON BY DEEP MAROON BACK WITH PALE BROWNISH -YELLOW HEAD,NECK AND BREAST.NON-BREEDING BIRD IS INCONSPICUOUS DULL EARTHY-BROWN BIRD THAT SUDDENLY BECOMES STARTINGLY OBVIOUS WHEN IT SPREADS ITS WHITE WINGS IN FLIGHT;INDISTINGUISHABLE FROM NONBREEDING CHINESE POND HERON.FOUND IN ALL KINDS OF SHALLOW WETLANDS,BOTH LARGE AND SMALL.BREEDS AND ROOSTS COLONIALLY;FEEDS ALONE.THE PRIMARY FOOD OF THESE BIRDS INCLUDES CRUSTACEANS,AQUATIC INSECTS,FISHES,TADPOLES AND SOMETIMES LEECHES.THEY ALSO FEED ON CRICKETS,DRAGON FLIES,AND BEES.