Cattle Egret - Bubulcus ibis

Cattle Egret

Bubulcus ibis

Order : Ciconiiformes

Family : Ardeidae ;

Biometrics :

Size : 48 à 53 cm
Wingspan : 90 à 96 cm
Weight : 300 à 400 g

Longevity : 15 years

IUCN conservation status :

Extinct

Threatened

Least
concern

Extinc
in the Wild

Near
threatened

Not
evaluated

EX EW CR EN VU NT LC NE

Geographic range :

Synonyms : Yegipetskaya Tsaplya (ru), Kohäger (sv), Garcilla bueyera (es), Airone guardabuoi (it), Kuhreiher (al), Koereiger (nl), Cattle Egret (en)

Physical description :
Cattle Egret is a very common species. It is a wader living close to freshwater, a medium-sized piscivorous. It is frequently associated to cattle, eating insects under and between the livestock's legs, and even on their backs.
This wader is slightly smaller than Little Egret. We know it with two different plumages: breeding plumage and winter plumage.
Adult in breeding plumage is white, with orange feathers on head, back and chest. Bill is yellow and legs are reddish.
In winter plumage, it is white overall. Bill is orange, legs are greenish and dusky.
Between the two phases, male moults completely at the end of the fall.
This small heron seems to be hunch-backed when perched, with head into shoulders. Cattle Egret differs from other herons by its bulky silhouette and its short bill.
Both sexes are similar.
Juvenile is similar to adults in winter plumage, but it has black bill and legs, becoming pale very soon.

Voice :
Sound from CD 'Tous les Oiseaux d'Europe' by Jean C. Roché by courtesy of Sittelle and CEBA. Cattle Egret utters various croaking during nesting period 'aaaark' or ' pok-pok'.

Habitat : Unlike other herons, Cattle Egret is not absolutely associated to aquatic environment. Even if water and wet areas play an important role in its life style, we can find it in steppes and meadows. It may spend relatively long time in dry grassy habitats and near urban areas.
GEOGRAPHIC RANGE: coming from Africa, it is very common in Kenya or Tanzania, and we can meet this species in all continents except close to polar circles. It is common in Spain and southern of France, and we can occasionally see it in rest of Europe.

Behaviour : Cattle Egret is a gregarious bird. It nests in colonies more or less important (up to 10 birds to thousands) in trees or in bushes near lakes and ponds, sometimes with other heron's species. Searching food is collective. We can see them in small groups, taking advantage of disturbed insects by cattle.
Cattle Egret also flies in flocks, but unlike geese or other waders known for their strict aligning, they fly in uncoordinated formations.
Most of them are resident, but we can note some dispersion after breeding season.

Flight : Cattle Egret performs slow wing beats with head tucked behind and held legs. It has a powerful and regular flight.

Reproduction-nesting : Both parents build the nest, but male brings nest materials and female arrange them, building the structure. Nest is a platform made with twigs and reeds, and situated in a bush or a tree close to the water.
When one of the mates comes back to the nest, they perform a ceremonial including erect back feathers and flattening of crest feathers.
Female lays 4 to 5 bluish green eggs. Incubation lasts about 22 to 26 days, shared by both adults. Altricial chicks leave the nest at about 30 days of age, but they are able to climb in branches around the nest at about 14 to 21 days.

Food habits : Cattle Egret feeds mainly on insects. It is often seen perched on cattle in order to eat parasites such as ticks and flies. But it also consumes small vertebrates which hunt by walking slowly near livestock, large mammals or agricultural engines.

Protection / threats : Cattle Egret is common and widespread throughout its range.

Other links :
Iucn
Birdlife