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Cattle Egret
(Ardea [Bubulcus] ibis)
 German name(s): "Kuhreiher"
Size: 48-53 cm; wing span 88-96 cm
Weight: 270-510 g
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Similar species |
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Physical description |
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 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
too. 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.
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Taxonomy, classification |
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See Cattle
Egret at Wikipedia  .
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Range, habitat, finding this species |
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Click here for information on habitat
and range
The overall distribution of this species can be assessed based
on sighting reports submitted by birdwatchers to the
ebird.org
website.
The global distribution of the Cattle Egret is available
HERE
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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 Papua New Guinea.
There is also a large population in Australia.
In Europe Cattle Egrets are permanent residents in parts of
the western Mediterranean, from parts of Iberia via the
Cote d'Azure to the Po river lowlands into parts of Italy,
Sardinia and Sicily. From the southern Pyrenees a second
population ranges along the Bay of Biscaye, with some found
in inland France as well.
Cattle Egrets are found in the shallows of various kinds of freshwater
wetlands such as freshwater lakes and on grassland, often paddocks
around cattle.
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Sightings |
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Click here for sighting information
Race "ibis"
We have not seen any Cattle Egrets, race "ibis", in Europe yet,
but have previously spotted race "coromanda" in
Australia.
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Photos |
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We have not photographed Cattle Egrets, race "ibis", in Europe yet,
but have taken photos of race "coromanda" in
Australia.
A much more complete account of this species is given on the
Australian page.
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.
Breeding
Nest
Eggs
Behaviour
Food
Call/s
