Cattle Egret [Bubulcus Ibis]

In this video, we learn about the cattle egret.

QUICK FACTS
• Lifespan: 10 (average) – 20 (high) years
• Size: 18–22 in
• Wingspan: 34,5 – 38 in
• Weight: 9.5 – 18 oz
• Family: Ardeidae

The cattle egret is a member of the heron family, Ardeidae.

Description
It is a sturdy bird with a hunched posture and short neck. It has white plumage, yellow eyes, and a yellow bill. Breeding adults of the nominate species have buff-orange plumes on the crown, breast, and back, and the eyes, bill, and legs become bright red prior to pairing.

Sexes are alike, but the male is larger with longer breeding plumes. There are two recognised subspecies with differences in range (western and eastern) and breeding plumage.

Vocalizations: Call and song
Cattle egrets are mostly silent. During the breeding season, a throaty croaking call is given by pairs in breeding colonies.

Distribution and movements
The cattle egret was originally native to southern Spain, Portugal, and tropical Africa and Asia. Today the species has a cosmopolitan distribution with a vastly expanded range. Populations can be migratory, sedentary, dispersive, or a mix of movement patterns.

Habitat
Cattle egrets inhabit dry grassy habitats.

Diet and feeding habits
Cattle egrets have a wide and varied diet comprising insects, spiders, frogs, fish, worms, snakes, and lizards. They are named for their feeding strategy of following cattle and other grazing animals and catching the insects disturbed in the grasses as they graze.

Nesting and breeding
Cattle egrets nest in colonies around water bodies. They are seasonally monogamous. The flimsy platform nest is made of sticks.

Females lay one to five eggs and the incubation period lasts roughly 23 days. They fledge within a month but remain dependent on the parents for a couple more weeks.

Status and conservation
This species has a massive range and an increasing population. It is listed as “least concern” by the IUCN.

#avibirds #bird #birdwatching #cattleegret #egret #egrets #bubulcusibis

[markcaon]

thanks for this video, it helped us identify some of the local birds.