| Cattle Egret | |
|---|---|
 Cattle Egrets with a cow. | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Pelecaniformes |
| Family: | Ardeidae |
| Genus: | Bubulcus |
| Species: | Bubulcus ibis |
The Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis) is a relatively small, mostly white egret found in all continents except Antarctica.
Description[]
This small, sturdy egret is 46-56 cm long and has a 88-96 cm wingspan. It has a relatively short neck and a short, straight, pointed bill, which is normally yellow but turns orange in the breeding season. The legs are normally grey, but yellow in the breeding season. The plumage is mostly white, with tawny patches on the back, crown and chest in the breeding season. The lores and the eye ring are featherless and yellow. The tail is squared and very short. The wings are broad and rounded. In flight, the Cattle Egret keeps its neck folded and its legs extended. The juvenile has a dark bill and dark legs.
Voice[]
It emits various hoarse, monosyllabic or bisyllabic calls. In flight, it may give soft, monosyllabic croaks.
Behaviour[]
The Cattle Egret is primarily terrestrial and highly gregarious, sometimes mixing with other heron species, such as Little Egrets and Night Herons.
Feeding[]
It feeds primarily on arthropods, particularly grasshoppers, but sometimes eats small vertebrates such as frogs and lizards as well. The name "Cattle Egret" derives from the bird's habit of following cattle herds looking for insects, sometimes even rising on the animals' back to feed on their parasites.
Breeding[]
A highly colonial bird, the Cattle Egret nests on trees, bushes, or in reed thickets. The breeding season goes from April to August. The clutch consists of 4-6 white or blueish eggs. The bird produces one or two annual broods. It is a resident or dispersive and short-distance migrator.
Habitat[]
A typical bird of the rural countryside, the Cattle Egret forages on meadows, fields and marshes. Despite being less tied to water than most herons, it still prefers to live in the proximity of a body of water.
Gallery[]
