Long Legged Waders

Cattle Egret

Bubulcus ibis
Cattle Egret thumbnail
Length: 22 in. (56 cm )
Common throughout Africa and Asia, this egret has only recently made its way to the Western Hemisphere. Unusual for egrets, this species spends little time in the water. Instead they are specialized at catching insects and other small animals scared out of hiding by the hooves of large grazing mammals. Evidently arriving on a storm track from West Africa, a small flock made its way to northeastern Brazil across the Atlantic in 1870. From there they spread quickly to the north and south taking advantage of deforestation, agricultural grasslands and fields and large domestic grazing animals. By 1945 they arrived in Florida, and now they are found across most of the United States. Typically hundreds roost together each night in the same trees or reed beds over water. Every morning they disperse in small flocks in all directions and return in the evening. Nests are bulky constructions of twigs and sticks in trees over water and often in dense colonies of 1000 or more.

The four-digit banding code is CAEG.


Agricultural

Grasslands

Marsh / swamp

Open water
Bird Sound Type: Quacking
Sex of Bird: Male
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Bird Sound Type: Quacking
Sex of Bird: Male
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View Citation

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Bibliographic details:

  • Article: Cattle Egret
  • Author(s): Dr. Biology
  • Publisher: Arizona State University School of Life Sciences Ask A Biologist
  • Site name: ASU - Ask A Biologist
  • Date published: July 13, 2017
  • Date accessed: March 7, 2024
  • Link: https://askabiologist.asu.edu/activities/bird/cattle-egret

APA Style

Dr. Biology. (2017, July 13). Cattle Egret. ASU - Ask A Biologist. Retrieved March 7, 2024 from https://askabiologist.asu.edu/activities/bird/cattle-egret

American Psychological Association. For more info, see http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/10/

Chicago Manual of Style

Dr. Biology. "Cattle Egret". ASU - Ask A Biologist. 13 July, 2017. https://askabiologist.asu.edu/activities/bird/cattle-egret

MLA 2017 Style

Dr. Biology. "Cattle Egret". ASU - Ask A Biologist. 13 Jul 2017. ASU - Ask A Biologist, Web. 7 Mar 2024. https://askabiologist.asu.edu/activities/bird/cattle-egret

Modern Language Association, 7th Ed. For more info, see http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/08/
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