The Indian pond heron or paddybird (Ardeola grayii) is a small heron that may live at fresh, salt, natural or human made aquatic places. Its local name is Khunch bagula. It is distinguished from the Chinese Pond Heron by brown buff (not dark chestnut) head and neck, maroon (not slate) back, brown buff (not maroon) breast. The Indian pond-heron is found across most of the Indian subcontinent, and ranges from Iran in the west to Vietnam in the east.