Common breeding resident of low country dry zone marshes, tanks, paddy fields and lagoons. However there are considerable number of breeding birds in wet zone especially wetlands around
Colombo, said to be originated from a colony at the
Dehiwela zoo. Its food consists of frogs, insects, crabs, worms, etc. It is partially nocturnal and flocks forming V formation can be seen flying to distance feeding grounds at dusk from their day time roosting places. It breeds during early part of the year colonially with other species of herons, egrets etc on a nest made out of piles of sticks in trees in flooded water.
Nice shot! I often see them around Kurunegala,though I've not been able to photograph one yet.
ReplyDeleteThanks Amila. I have photographed this at Thalangama tank where they are not much afraid of people since Tank is almost surrounded by human habitations and you have enough chances to encounter them not much far away:)
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