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5

Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis) Alternate name(s): "Eastern Cattle Egret" Size: 48-53 cm; wing span 88-96 cm Weight: 270-510 g

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Similar species

Description     Classification     Distribution     Sightings     Photos     Breeding     Nest     Eggs     Behaviour     Food     Call/s

Physical description Click here for a physical description Cattle Egrets are the medium-size egrets. Their plumage is all-white during the non-breeding season. For the breeding season they grow long, orange-brown scapular and frontal plumes, which extend to the head as well. The straight yellow bill is short and thick, with prominent feathers under the lower mandible reminiscent of a "beard". The irises are yellow; the legs and feet are greenish-grey.

Taxonomy, classification See Cattle Egret at Wikipedia .

Range, habitat, finding this species Click here for information on habitat and range The overall distribution of this species can be assessed, and specific locations where birds have been spotted can be found, based on individual sighting reports submitted by birdwatchers to ebird.org . The global distribution of the Cattle Egret is available HERE . Having made the "jump" from Western Africa to South America in 1933, Cattle Egrets are now a global species. Nominate (western) race "ibis", which was initially found in Africa outside the Sahara desert, parts of the Arabian coastline (including the northern tip at the border between the UAE and Oman), and parts of the Mediterranean coastline, has now also colonized all of the Americas, up to the coastline of Ontario, but with the exception of the highest ranges of the Andes, the Rocky Mountains and the rest of Canada/Alaska. The eastern race "coromanda" is found all year round in Pakistan, India and continental South-east Asia, plus some of the South-east Asian islands. During the breeding season they extend their range to also include southern China, South Korea and southern Japan. Part of this population spends the northern winter in parts of Indonesia and southern New Guinea. There is also a large population in Australia. In Australia, race "coromandus", are found mostly along the coastline of south-eastern Australia, but also (mostly when not breeding) inland, e.g. in the Murray-Darling basin and the Great Dividing Range. They also inhabit the southern coastline from Eyre Peninsula via the South coast of VIC and NSW - including the Bass Strait and Tasmania - up the East coast and the hill ranges of the Great Dividing Range in QLD. Also found in the tropical North of the NT and along the southern end of the Gulf and Carpentaria and the southern half of Cape York peninsula. In WA they are found on the far south-western tip and along parts of the Fitzroy River. Cattle Egrets are found in the shallows of various kinds of freshwater wetlands such as freshwater lakes and on grassland, often on paddocks around cattle.

Sightings Click here for sighting information Race "coromandus" Cattle Egrets, race "coromandus", were first spotted by us in February 2008, at Narrabri Lake, Narrabri, NSW, after substantial rainfalls. Since then, they are regulars at Narrabri Lake and on paddocks with cattle on them in the wider Narrabri area. At Narrabri Lakethey are regularly found nesting, in a small colony together with other aquatic species, on a bird refuge island during the breeding season. L. Tonnochy reports sightings of Cattle Egrets, race "coromandus", 20 km West of Townsville, QLD, in January 2011. M. & B. Midkiff report spotting Cattle Egrets, race "coromandus", at Minden, QLD, in November 2013, where they were nesting at the time. J. Greaves reports spotting Cattle Egrets, race "coromandus", at Yellow Water billabong, Kakadu NP, NT, in November 2014. M. Eaton reports finding Cattle Egrets, race "coromandus", breeding in a wetland in Gatton, QLD, in December 2017. The species was also found at Arkarra Lagoons, Hervey Bay, QLD, in November 2023. At the time, they were breeding there.

Photos

Race "coromandus"

This race is also called the "Eastern Cattle Egret". Some authorities treat it as a separate species, "Bubulcus coromandus" or "Ardea coromanda".

ADULT

BREEDING

PAIR

Pair of Cattle Egrets in breeding plumage mating on their nest; in this case the sexes are known... (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Arkarra Lagoons, Hervey Bay, QLD, November 2023]

Sex unknown

With nuptial flush

Comparative portraits of Cattle Egrets with normal breeding plumage and colours, left, and nuptial flush, during which irises, base of the bill and orbital ring (sometimes also the legs) turn reddish to purple, right; the nuptial flush remains for a period of only about a week
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, November 2017]

Near-lateral view of a Cattle Egret in breeding plumage looking sideways - note, in addition, the nuptial flush, i.e. reddish iris and base of the bill and the pinkish orbital ring, all of which are seen only during a short period prior to egg-laying
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, November 2017]

Lateral view of a Cattle Egret in breeding plumage with nuptial flush (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Arkarra Lagoons, Hervey Bay, QLD, November 2023]

Lateral view of a Cattle Egret in breeding plumage with nuptial flush (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Arkarra Lagoons, Hervey Bay, QLD, November 2023]

Lateral view of a Cattle Egret in breeding plumage with nuptial flush (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Arkarra Lagoons, Hervey Bay, QLD, November 2023]

Near-dorsal view of a Cattle Egret in breeding plumage with nuptial flush (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Arkarra Lagoons, Hervey Bay, QLD, November 2023]

Without nuptial flush

Frontal view of a Cattle Egret in breeding plumage (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Arkarra Lagoons, Hervey Bay, QLD, November 2023]

Close-up near-frontal view of a Cattle Egret in breeding plumage (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Gatton, QLD, December 2017]

Near-frontal view of a Cattle Egret in breeding plumage
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, November 2017]

Near-frontal view of a Cattle Egret in breeding plumage looking sideways (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Arkarra Lagoons, Hervey Bay, QLD, November 2023]

Near-frontal view of a Cattle Egret spreading its wings; in the background a pair of nesting Australian White Ibises
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, November 2011]

Close-up lateral view of a Cattle Egret in breeding plumage (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Gatton, QLD, December 2017]

Lateral view of a Cattle Egret in breeding plumage
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, November 2017]

Lateral view of a Cattle Egret in breeding plumage ready for take-off
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, November 2017]

Near-dorsal view of a Cattle Egret (photo courtesy of M. & B. Midkiff)
[Minden, QLD, November 2013]

Near-dorsal view of a Cattle Egret in breeding plumage (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Gatton, QLD, December 2017]

Cattle Egret doing what its name says it's got to do...
[Near Narrabri, NSW, January 2011]

Cattle Egret "hitching a ride"
[Eulah Creek, NSW, January 2013]

Cattle Egret moulting into its breeding plumage
[Near Narrabri, NSW, September 2011]

Cattle Egret (right) and Intermediate Egrets (left) perched on reeds
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, February 2008]

Cattle Egret in breeding plumage in flight, seen from underneath
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, December 2010]

Lateral view of a Cattle Egret in breeding plumage in flight
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, November 2011]

Cattle Egret in breeding plumage in flight, different perspective
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, December 2010]

Cattle Egret in flight carrying nesting material
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, October 2010]

Part of a flock of Cattle Egrets in breeding plumage in flight above a paddock
[Eulah Creek, NSW, November 2019]

NON-BREEDING

Close-up view of a Cattle Egret in non-breeding plumage in flight
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, March 2012]

Cattle Egret in non-breeding plumage in flight seen from underneath
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, July 2012]

Small flock of Cattle Egrets arriving at Narrabri Lake
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, December 2010]

This photo allows a comparison of the relative sizes of a Cattle Egret (centre), a Great Egret (left) and an Intermediate Egret (right); all of them are searching for nesting material under a tree after a violent storm
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, December 2010]

IMMATURE/JUVENILE

Two (probably young) Cattle Egrets
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, March 2012]

Dorsal view of a fledgling Cattle Egret
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, February 2013]

This fledgling Cattle Egret still had problems taking off from the ground
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, February 2013]

Breeding information

Breeding season: Sep - Oct

Eggs: 3 - 6

Incubation period: 25 days

Fledging age: 42 days

The breeding season depends significantly on geographical latitude. In the tropical north Cattle Egrets breed Mar - May. They breed in colonies, together with other aquatic birds.

These Cattle Egrets are just moulting back into their breeding plumage
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, September 2011]

Nest

"bungobittah", "lar", "malunna", "jindi" [bundjalung] = nest [Aboriginal]

Type: Basket

Material: Sticks, lined with leaves

Height above ground: 3 - 15 m

Cattle Egrets nest in trees along the banks of freshwater courses, fresh water lakes or dams.

Cattle Egrets have been seen by us nesting, together with other aquatic birds, at Narrabri Lake during the breeding season of 2008/09 and most years since then. Until at least 2023, this is the only known location where Cattle Egrets breed regularly in inland NSW.

Close-up view of a Cattle Egret in breeding plumage on its nest (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Arkarra Lagoons, Hervey Bay, QLD, November 2023]

Close-up view of a Cattle Egret in breeding plumage on its nest, with its partner, with nuptial flush, in attendance
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Arkarra Lagoons, Hervey Bay, QLD, November 2023]

Close-up view of a Cattle Egret nest
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, November 2017]

Close-up frontal view of a Cattle Egret on its nest (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Gatton, QLD, December 2017]

Frontal view of a Cattle Egret on its nest
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, November 2011]

Near-fledging age Cattle Egret chicks in their nest (photo courtesy of V. Collins)
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, January 2021]

Cattle Egret with two chicks in its nest (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Gatton, QLD, December 2017]

Cattle Egret with two chicks in its nest - THAT is an umbrella... (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Gatton, QLD, December 2017]

Lateral view of Cattle Egrets on their nests
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, November 2014]

Example of colonial nesting by Cattle Egrets
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, November 2011]

Cut-out of a larger photo showing part of a breeding colony of Cattle Egrets
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, November 2014]

Eggs

"boyanga", "booyanga", "derinya", "dirandil", "koomura", "mirk", "ngampu", "nooluk", "pateena", "pum-pum" = Egg; "dirundirri" = eggs [Aboriginal]; "gawu" = eggs [gamilaraay]

Size: 49 x 34 mm

Colour: Light blue

Shape: Long elliptical

Behaviour

Social behaviour: Communal

Mobility: Migratory

Elementary unit: Flock

As their name already suggests, Cattle Egrets follow cattle in order to pick off animals that are disturbed in tall grass.

Cattle Egrets feeding together
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, November 2011]

Cattle Egret in breeding plumage with a "funky haircut" (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Gatton, QLD, December 2017]

Pair of Cattle Egrets in breeding plumage with a "funky haircut" (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Gatton, QLD, December 2017]

Pair of Cattle Egrets in breeding plumage with offspring that go to the same hairdresser... (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Gatton, QLD, December 2017]

Food, Diet

All egrets and herons prey on aquatic creatures in fresh water or estuaries (fish, frogs, snakes or crustaceans). Cattle Egrets specialise in small prey, including large insects, that is disturbed by large mammals, but will hunt without "aid" as well.

Cattle Egret in breeding plumage on the hunt (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Gatton, QLD, December 2017]

Cattle Egret in breeding plumage on the hunt (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Gatton, QLD, December 2017]

Call(s)/Song

For this species we have recorded the following call(s)/song. The interpretation of their meaning is our own; comments and suggestions for improvement are welcome.

categrt_jp_20200424.m4a	ibis (Portugal)	?	© JP
categrt_20171124_3.m4a	coromanda (NW NSW)	Warning calls	© MD
categrt_20171124_5.m4a	coromanda (NW NSW)	Squabbling	© MD
categrt_20171124.m4a	coromanda (NW NSW)	Squabbling	© MD
categrt_20171124_2.m4a	coromanda (NW NSW)	Various (breeding colony)	© MD
categrt_20171124_6.m4a	coromanda (NW NSW)	?	© MD
categrt_20171124_7.m4a	coromanda (NW NSW)	?	© MD

More (Eastern) Cattle Egret sound recordings are available at xeno-canto.org .

These pages are largely based on our own observations and those of our contributors. The structure of these bird pages is explained HERE. For more salient facts on any bird species please refer to a field guide.

Would you like to contribute photos or sound recordings to this site? If interested, please CLICK HERE. Credits to contributors are given HERE.

Disclaimer: Comments are always welcome. We give no guarantee that the information presented on these pages is always correct or up-to-date. External links are marked as such and we take no responsibility for the contents of external pages. All images on this site are protected by copyright & used by permission of the respective owners. If you wish to reproduce them or any of the material presented on this web site, please contact us: We hereby acknowledge the original custodians of the land which is described on these pages, including the Gomeroi/Gamilaraay people of the North-west Slopes and Plains of NSW, and the traditional owners of other lands and nations within this country. We acknowledge elders past, present and emerging. Sovereignty was never ceded.          Last updated: Mon, 4 December 2023, 8:01 +00:00