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Indian pond heron
अंधा बगुला (andha bagula)
A hunched brown heron that stands motionless at the water's edge and is almost invisible until it flies, when it opens into a startling white bird.
How to recognise it
At rest: a streaky brown lump on a ghat step. In flight: brilliant white wings. In the breeding months it grows a maroon back and long head plumes.
Where to see it
Chandigarh
Its Hindi name means “blind heron”, from the way it lets people walk almost up to it before flying: patience, not blindness.
Sukhna Lake · Japanese Garden · Siswan Dam and Community Reserve
Haridwar
Its Hindi name means “blind heron”, from the way it lets people walk almost up to it before flying: patience, not blindness.
Jhilmil Jheel Conservation Reserve · Kushavarta Ghat
Hyderabad
Its Hindi name means “blind heron”, from the way it lets people walk almost up to it before flying: patience, not blindness.
Durgam Cheruvu (Secret Lake) · Lumbini Park and the Boat to the Buddha · Ameenpur Lake
Mayapur
Its Hindi name means “blind heron”, from the way it lets people walk almost up to it before flying: patience, not blindness.
Chupi Char, Purbasthali
Pune
Its Hindi name means “blind heron”, from the way it lets people walk almost up to it before flying: patience, not blindness.
Pashan Lake · Mulshi Lake · Osho Teerth Park (Shunyo Park)
Pushkar
Its Hindi name means “blind heron”: it stands so still that people walk past it. The same stillness has made it a stock image for patience in Indian storytelling. It is recorded on the lakes of the Ajmer–Pushkar valley through the year.
Pushkar Lake · Budha Pushkar Lake (Old Pushkar)
Rishikesh
Its Hindi name means “blind heron”, from the way it lets people walk almost up to it before flying: patience, not blindness.
Goa Beach · Shivpuri
Ujjain
Its Hindi name means “blind heron”, from the way it lets people walk almost up to it before flying: patience, not blindness.
Shipra River and Shri Ram Ghat · Rudra Sagar Lake · Undasa Lake
Varanasi
Its Hindi name means “blind heron”, from the way it lets people walk almost up to it before flying: patience, not blindness.
Assi Ghat · Rajdari & Devdari Waterfalls · Chandraprabha Wildlife Sanctuary