Study of Cattle Egrets
The Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis) is native to Asia and Africa. Apparently it only reached the Americas in the late 19th century from Africa, finding its way into northeastern South America about 1877. It arrived in the United States about 1941 and the first reported nesting was in 1953. During the past fifty-five years it has become one of the most abundant of the North American herons. It can be found from Alaska to Newfoundland and is now known to breed in nearly all states.It is not quite like any other of our white herons. It is smaller than either the Snowy Egret or the immature Little Blue Heron. It is about 17 inches long with a wing-spread of 37 inches. The sexes are similar with dull orange or yellow bills, yellowish to blackish legs and all white body plumage. In alternate plumage, the bills and legs become bright red and there is buffy feathering about the head, neck and back.
It is often seen in fields and open habitat away from water. The Cattle Egret is an opportunistic feeder and is known to follow large animals (horses and cattle) or tractors and other farm machinery to catch the insects they stir up. The Cattle Egret is considered a welcome addition because it does not interfere with native species for either nesting sites or food. Farmers are very pleased with the fact that Cattle Egrets get rid of so many harmful insects.
Other white herons
seen
in our area are the Great Egret (Ardea alba),
the Snowy Egret (Egretta thula),
the immature Little Blue Heron (Egretta caerulea) and
the rare Little Egret (Egretta garzetta.) (Photos
of these birds are at the bottom of the album below for comparison.)
The photos of the
Cattle Egrets were taken during the past year in Bucks County (PA), Brigantine
(NJ), Florida and Bombay Hook NWR in Delaware. The Great Egret, Snowy Egret and immature
Little Blue Heron images were taken in Brigantine and Bombay Hook NWR during
the past couple of months. The Little
Egret was discovered by Devich Farbotnik in Bombay Hook NWR on June 7th, 2008
and I was able to photograph it that week.
Please click on the thumbnails or captions to see a larger image...thanks!
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Revised September 16th, 2008
©
Howard B. Eskin 2008 Please
click here to go back to Bird Webpage Index 
Please email your comments to hbeskin@voicenet.com