feather, eye, and bill colour are determined by life stage (chick, juvenile, and adult) and reproductive status.

When the species is not breeding, the crown and the posterior are a colour mixture of buff and black with brown prominent over the other parts of the body.

[6] The primary difference of appearance in the breeding stage is the dominance of a snow white colour over the body a bill of a deep azure blue.

[7] When coming out of breeding, an intermediate plumage emerges on the back, and dense plumes sprouting on areas such as the neck and breast.

[7] Prior to adulthood, the Malagasy pond heron will possess a juvenile plumage just before leaving the nest, lasting a few weeks.

During the non-breeding season, they migrate to eastern mainland Africa, in Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, DR Congo, Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Mozambique.

[1][2] In Madagascar, some of the locations where commonly observed include Lake Alarobia and Tsimbazaza Park (both near Antananarivo), wetlands around Ampijoroa and at Berenty.

They occupy a broad range of Madagascan habitats that include small grassy marshes, lakes, ponds, streams, and rice fields.

A small study, of a single Malagasy heron in Madagascar, showed a varied diet that included fish, crustaceans, frogs, dragonflies, beetles and grasshoppers.

The main threat for survival of this species is the continual loss of habitat due to the clearing, drainage, and conversion of their wetland environments to rice fields.

However, a recently established resource management process labelled GELOSE has helped significantly decrease activity in this species habitat.

[15] An equally dangerous threat to their survival is competition with the squacco heron, which is spreading vigorously and seems to be more adaptable to man-made structures and icons that encroach on their habitat.

[16] In Madagascar, colonies are located in phragmite reedbeds, typha, papyrus and Cyprus stands with coastal islands also being of extreme importance.

[20] Successful breeding usually results from appropriate courtship displays, which include features such as aerial chases, duets, and crest raising.

In 1988, this species was classified as near threatened according to IUCN's red list, but continued pressure on the population resulted in a move to the vulnerable category in 2000.