A small white egret with shorter neck and yellow bill. Most non-aquatic of egrets — follows cattle and tractors to catch insects flushed up.

Native status: Native to the Old World; colonized the Americas naturally in the 20th century

§ Quick facts

SizeBody 25–130 cm (10–51 in); wingspan 45–200 cm
Weight100–3,000 g
LifespanWild 10–25 years
OrderPelecaniformes
FamilyArdeidae

§ Encyclopedia

The western cattle egret is a species of heron found in the tropics, subtropics and warm temperate zones. Formerly, most taxonomic authorities lumped this species and the eastern cattle egret together, but the two cattle egrets are now treated as separate species. Despite the similarities in plumage to the egrets of the genus Egretta, it is more closely related to the herons of Ardea. Originally native to parts of Africa, southwest Asia and southern Europe, it has undergone a rapid expansion in its distribution and successfully colonised much of the New World in the last century.

Source: Wikipedia — Western cattle egret Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0

§ Identification

Field marks. Small, thick-necked white egret with a yellow bill and (breeding) buffy-orange plumes on the crown, breast, and back; legs dark to yellowish, reddish when breeding.

Similar species. Snowy and Great egrets are slimmer with longer necks and forage in water; the Cattle Egret is chunky, dry-field-loving, and shows buff plumes when breeding.

Voice. Mostly silent away from colonies; low croaks and 'rick-rack' notes at the nest.

§ Diet & behavior

Diet. Fish, amphibians, small reptiles, occasional small mammals.

Behavior. A stocky egret that followed livestock across the world and colonized the Americas in the 20th century; it forages in dry fields beside cattle, snapping up insects the animals flush.

§ Range

Southern and central US; introduced from Africa

§ Habitat

Pastures, agricultural fields, urban areas

§ Threats

Pesticide drift from agricultural fields.

§ Conservation status

According to the IUCN Red List, the cattle egret is currently classified as Least Concern.

§ What helps

Maintain healthy pasture systems. Skip pesticides.

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§ Further reading

§ Sources cited

  • Cornell Lab of Ornithology — All About Birds
  • National Audubon Society
  • iNaturalist
  • IUCN Red List