Cattle Egret

Bubulcus ibisOrder: CICONIIFORMES Family: Bitterns, Herons and Egrets (Ardeidae)

Codes: Common Name: CAEG Scientific Name: BUBIBI ITIS Taxonomic No.: 174803

Birdman Mel's Backyard Tips

Overview

Cattle Egret: Medium, stocky egret with white body and pale orange-brown patches on head, neck and back. Eyes, bill and legs are orange. This is the only white egret with both a yellow bill and yellow legs. Feeds primarily on insects disturbed by livestock. Direct flight on quick steady wing beats.

Range and Habitat

Cattle Egret: Breeds throughout much of the U.S.; less dependent on aquatic habitats than other egrets, preferring grassy fields.

Topo Map: Long-legged-like Body

Listen to Call

Voice Text

"rick-rack"

Interesting Facts

The Cattle Egret did not exist outside of Africa until the late 19th century. They likely flew from Africa to South America and since have extended their range through Florida and then further north and west.

They have been observed along side the runways of airports waiting for airplanes to pass and blow insects out of the grass. They also follow farm equipment to catch insects that are disturbed.

It has been estimated that Cattle Egrets are able to gather 50% more food and use only two-thirds as much energy when they feed in association with livestock as opposed to feeding alone.

A group of cattle egrets are collectively known as a "stampede" of egrets.

Bird Term Glossary

Author

Gary Owen Dick

Related Birds

Little Blue Heron
Snowy Egret
Little Egret

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Bird Call Credits: The Macaulay Library of Natural Sounds at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Martyn Stewart, http://www.naturesound.org, Redmond, Washington USA. The reuse or copying of bird calls in this database is strictly forbidden.

Cattle Egret

● Song: "rick-rack"

● Foraging & Feeding: Cattle Egret: Eats mostly grasshoppers, crickets, spiders, flies, frogs, and moths. Commonly associates with livestock or large wild game, feeding on insects disturbed by grazing; also follows tractors in fields. Forages in small groups or singly, walking in a steady strut, darting forward and stabbing quickly with bill to catch prey.

● Breeding & nesting: Cattle Egret: One to nine pale blue or blue green eggs are laid in a nest made of sticks and vegetation; nests in colonies and sometimes reuses an old nest; often steals materials from neighbors. Eggs are incubated for approximately 24 days by both parents.

● Similar species: Cattle Egret: Great Egret and white phase Great Blue Heron are much larger. Snowy Egret and immature Little Blue Heron have dark or bi-colored bills.

Flight Pattern

Direct flight with rapid wing beats.

● Range & Habitat: Cattle Egret: Breeds throughout much of the U.S.; less dependent on aquatic habitats than other egrets, preferring grassy fields.

^BreedingMonogamous, Colonial

^PopulationNorth American population increasing

^MigrationMigratory

^Weight11.9 Ounces

Long-legged-like Body

4 and 6 letter alpha codes

The four letter common name alpha code is is derived from the first two letters of the common first name and the first two letters of common last name. The six letter species name alpha code is derived from the first three letters of the scientific name (genus) and the first three letters of the scientific name (species). See (1) below for the rules used to create the codes..

Four-letter (for English common names) and six-letter (for scientific names) species alpha codes were developed by Pyle and DeSante (2003, North American Bird-Bander 28:64-79) to reflect A.O.U. taxonomy and nomenclature (A.O.U. 1998) as modified by Supplements 42 (Auk 117:847-858, 2000) and 43 (Auk 119:897-906, 2002). The list has been updated by Pyle and DeSante to reflect changes reported by the A.O.U from 2003 through 2006.

Field Guide to Birds of North America

Cattle Egret

Birdman Mel's Backyard Tips

Overview

Range and Habitat

Topo Map: Long-legged-like Body

Listen to Call

Voice Text

Interesting Facts

Bird Term Glossary

Author

Related Birds

Cattle Egret

Flight Pattern