Cattle Egret Bird Facts (Bubulcus ibis)

Visual Identification

Appearance

The Cattle Egret is a compact, white heron with a robust yellow bill and yellowish-black legs. During the breeding season, adults develop buff-colored plumes on their heads, necks, and backs, giving them a golden glow.

Non-breeding adults and juveniles are entirely white. The species shows no significant sexual dimorphism, with males and females appearing nearly identical. Females are usually smaller, however.

Size

Length

46cm to 56cm

Wingspan

88cm to 96cm

Weight

270g to 512g

Colours

Males and females have similar plumage

Primary Colour

White

Secondary Colour

Buff

Beak Colour

Yellow Orange

Leg Colour

Yellow Black

Habitat and Distribution

Habitats

Woodland

The Cattle Egret is not typically found in Woodland habitats.

Garden

The Cattle Egret is not typically found in Garden habitats.

Wetland

The Cattle Egret can be found in Wetland habitats.

Coastal

The Cattle Egret is not typically found in Coastal habitats.

Urban

The Cattle Egret is not typically found in Urban habitats.

Farmland

The Cattle Egret can be found in Farmland habitats.

Grassland

The Cattle Egret can be found in Grassland habitats.

Desert

The Cattle Egret is not typically found in Desert habitats.

Tundra

The Cattle Egret is not typically found in Tundra habitats.

Rainforest

The Cattle Egret is not typically found in Rainforest habitats.

Mountain

The Cattle Egret is not typically found in Mountain habitats.

Savanna

The Cattle Egret is not typically found in Savanna habitats.

Distribution

Cattle Egrets inhabit many open habitats, including pastures, wetlands, and agricultural lands. They're found across six continents, with significant populations in Africa, Asia, Australia, and the Americas.

They're common in the southern United States and parts of Australia and have established populations in the UK. Their distribution can vary seasonally, with some populations undertaking short-distance migrations.

Elevation Range

Up to 4,000 meters

Climate zones

Tropical, Subtropical, Temperate

Distribution Map

This map gives you a rough idea of where you might spot a Cattle Egret. The coloured areas show countries where these birds have been seen.

A few things to keep in mind:

Birds might not be everywhere in the coloured areas, for example, they may be present around the coast of that country
Where birds live can change with seasons and available food
This map is quite simple - it doesn't show exact locations

We're working on making our maps even better! Soon, we hope to show you:

More detailed maps for bigger countries, including state and region
How birds move around during different seasons

Resident

Breeding

Non-breeding

Passage

Vagrant

Distribution by Region

Species that can be found in the area throughout the year

Algeria Angola Anguilla Antigua and Barbuda Argentina Aruba Bahrain Bangladesh Barbados Benin Bermuda Bhutan Bolivia Botswana Brazil British Virgin Islands Brunei Burkina Faso Burundi Cambodia Cameroon Cape Verde Cayman Islands Central African Republic Chad Chile China Colombia Comoros Congo Côte D'Ivoire Cuba Curaçao Democratic Republic of the Congo Djibouti Dominica Dominican Republic East Timor (Timor-Leste) Ecuador Egypt El Salvador Equatorial Guinea Eritrea Eswatini Ethiopia Falkland Islands France French Guiana Gabon Gambia Georgia Ghana Greece Guadeloupe Guatemala Guinea Guinea-Bissau Guyana Haiti Honduras India Indonesia Iran Iraq Israel Italy Jamaica Japan Jordan Kenya Laos Lesotho Liberia Libya Macao Madagascar Malawi Malaysia Martinique Mauritania Mauritius Mexico Montserrat Morocco Mozambique Myanmar Namibia Nepal New Zealand Nicaragua Niger Nigeria Pakistan Panama Papua New Guinea Paraguay Peru Philippines Portugal Réunion Russia Rwanda Saint Barthelemy Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha Saint Kitts and Nevis Saint Lucia Saint Martin Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Sao Tome and Principe Saudi Arabia Senegal Seychelles Sierra Leone Singapore Somalia South Africa South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands South Korea South Sudan Spain Sri Lanka Sudan Suriname Syria Taiwan Thailand The Bahamas Togo Trinidad and Tobago Tunisia Turkey Turks and Caicos Uganda United Arab Emirates US Virgin Islands Venezuela Vietnam Western Sahara Yemen Zambia Zimbabwe

Species that are present in the area during their breeding season

Armenia Australia Azerbaijan Canada Grenada Hong Kong Kazakhstan Maldives Mali Montenegro Netherlands North Korea Puerto Rico Romania Russia Serbia Spain Tanzania Turkmenistan United States of America Uruguay

Species that are present in the area outside their breeding season

Belize Costa Rica Gibraltar Kuwait Micronesia Oman Palestine

Species that pass through the area during migration

Cyprus Lebanon Qatar

Species that appear infrequently (rare) and unpredictably outside their normal range

Afghanistan Albania Austria Belarus Belgium Bosnia and Herzegovina Bulgaria Christmas Island Croatia Czechia Denmark Finland Germany Hungary Iceland Ireland Latvia Liechtenstein Lithuania Luxembourg Macedonia Malta New Caledonia Norway Poland Saint Pierre and Miquelon Slovenia Sweden Switzerland Tajikistan The United Kingdom Uzbekistan

Behaviour and Ecology

Bird Attributes

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Bird Attributes Explained

Our bird attributes system rates various aspects of a bird's capabilities on a scale of 0-100, based on data from field observations, scientific studies, and expert knowledge.

Attribute Categories:

Agility: Manoeuvrability, speed, and grace in flight or movement.
Strength: Physical power, often correlating with size and hunting abilities.
Adaptability: Ability to thrive in various environments or changing conditions.
Aggressiveness: Territorial behaviour and assertiveness, particularly during breeding seasons.
Endurance: Stamina, often seen in migration patterns or foraging behaviours.

Understanding the Ratings:

0-20: Very Low
21-40: Low
41-60: Average
61-80: High
81-100: Very High

Remember, these attributes are relative to other bird species and don't necessarily indicate superiority.

Hover over the icon next to each attribute for more information.

Tap the icon next to each attribute for more information.

Agility 75

Agility

Reflects the bird's manoeuvrability, speed, and grace in flight or movement.

The Cattle Egret displays considerable agility in its foraging behaviour, adeptly manoeuvring around large animals to catch disturbed insects. Their ability to snatch flies and ticks directly off mammals demonstrates impressive dexterity.

Strength 60

Strength

Indicates the bird's physical power, often correlating with size and hunting abilities.

While not exceptionally strong for their size, Cattle Egrets possess enough strength to construct sturdy nests and handle a variety of prey, including small vertebrates like frogs and lizards.

Adaptability 95

Adaptability

Represents the bird's ability to thrive in various environments or changing conditions.

Cattle Egrets are highly adaptable, having spread to six continents in just over a century. Their ability to thrive in diverse habitats, from wetlands to farmlands, and their opportunistic feeding strategy showcase remarkable adaptability.

Aggressiveness 40

Aggressiveness

Measures the bird's territorial behaviour and assertiveness, particularly during breeding seasons.

Generally non-aggressive towards other species, Cattle Egrets are social birds often seen in large flocks. However, they may display some aggression during breeding season or when defending nesting sites.

Endurance 80

Endurance

Reflects the bird's stamina, often seen in migration patterns or foraging behaviours.

Cattle Egrets demonstrate good endurance, capable of consuming up to 50% of their body weight in insects daily. Their ability to undertake short-distance migrations and maintain activity throughout the day in various climates indicates strong endurance.

Diet

Cattle Egrets primarily feed on insects, particularly grasshoppers, crickets, and flies. They also consume small vertebrates like frogs, lizards, and even fish.

Their unique foraging behavior of following large animals allows them to catch prey flushed out by their 'hosts' movement, as well as taking flies and ticks directly off the animals’ bodies to the benefit of both.

They will also scavenge for scraps around areas of human occupation.

Behaviour

Cattle Egrets are highly social and often seen in large flocks. They're known for their commensal relationship with large grazing mammals, following them to catch disturbed insects.

These birds are also adept at catching flies and ticks directly off animals, showcasing their opportunistic feeding strategy.

Vocalisation

Cattle Egrets are generally quiet, but they do vocalize in breeding colonies. Their calls include a nasal 'rick-rack' during courtship and a soft, guttural 'thuk-thuk-thuk' when disturbed. Chicks in the nest produce a raspy begging call to solicit food from parents.

Nesting & Breeding

Cattle Egrets typically breed in colonies, often with other heron species. Pair formation begins with elaborate courtship displays, including neck stretching and feather fluffing.

Nests are platform-like structures made of sticks, built in trees or shrubs near water. Females lay 2-5 pale blue eggs, which both parents incubate.

Incubation lasts about 23 days, with chicks fledging after 30-45 days. Parents continue to feed the young for several weeks after they leave the nest.

Conservation and Status

Global Conservation Status

Least Concern ^[1]

While the Cattle Egret is listed as Least Concern due to its vast range and increasing population, it faces localized threats from habitat loss and agricultural changes.

Conservation efforts focus on protecting wetlands and maintaining traditional farming practices that benefit the species.

Population Data

Global Population Estimate

4,000,000 - 9,850,000 individuals ^[2]

Global Population Trend

^[3]

Trend data may be uncertain or fluctuating

Additional Information

Quick Facts

Other names:

Buff-backed Heron, Cow Crane, Western Cattle Egret

Family:

Ardeidae

Average Lifespan

7 to 10 years

Max Lifespan

23 years ^[4]

Predators

Adult Cattle Egrets face few predators, but eggs and chicks are vulnerable to crows, ravens, and birds of prey. In some areas, snakes and small mammals may also raid nests.

Did You Know?

Cattle Egrets have spread to six continents in just over a century, one of the most rapid and wide-reaching natural expansions of any bird species.
They can eat up to 50% of their body weight in insects daily, making them valuable allies in pest control.
Despite their name, Cattle Egrets are associated with many large animals, including elephants, rhinos, and farm machinery.

FAQs

The sub-species debate

Whilst it is recognised generally that there are two sub-species of the cattle egret, split by geographical habitat and plumage characteristics, some ornithologists are of the opinion that the western variety and eastern variety are in fact two separate species. In the main however, it is accepted that both the western and eastern birds fall within the Bubulcus ibis species.

Confusion arises with a third dissident sub-species known as Bubulcus ibis seychellarum, which inhabits the Seychelles archipelago in the Indian Ocean. Whilst the jury is still out, although this latter egret is smaller in stature than the nominate sub-species, the western variety, it is widely recognised as being a member of that sub-species (Bubulcus ibis ibis).

References

1
website: BirdLife International. 2019. Bubulcus ibis (amended version of 2016 assessment). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2019: e.T22697109A155477521.
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3
report, 2015: Wetlands International
2
website, 2015: BirdLife International
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4
website, 2000: Carey and Judge, Longevity Records: Life Spans of Mammals, Birds, Amphibians, Reptiles, and Fish
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