CATTLE EGRET
CATTLE EGRET (Bubulcus ibis) – (See images below)
DESCRIPTION: The Cattle Egret is white with a yellow bill and dark grey legs. Eyes are yellow. In breeding plumage there is a reddish tinge on the breast plumes. Sexes are similar. Bird length is about 50 cm (20 inches).
VOICE: https://www.xeno-canto.org/species/Bubulcus-ibis
NAME: ‘Cattle’ in the name relates to the bird’s habits. ‘Egret’ comes from French ‘aigrette’, which refers to the bird’s feathers used as ornaments in the past. Latin genus name ‘Bubulcus’ means ‘concerning cattle’. Latin species name ‘Ibis’ comes from ancient Egyptian ‘ibis’. Applied in error by Carl Linnaeus, as this bird is part of the Heron family, not the Ibis.
HABITAT: ‘Traditionally’, i.e. in natural settings, cattle egrets accompany cattle feeding on insects and other small animals, and will rid cattle of the pests that plague them, such as ticks and flies. Their adapting to human environments makes their presence now seen in city parks and also around airports.
DIET: Insects, arthropods, small reptiles, bird eggs/nestlings, some fish, also garbage.
NESTING: Nest in colonies in treetops near marshlands and coastal habitats, sometimes mixing with other species of herons. Three to seven light blue eggs are laid, incubated by both parents. Chicks fed by both parents.
DISTRIBUTION: Native to Africa, Europe, and parts of Asia, introduced in many countries including Hawaii (from Florida in the 1950s) in the USA. Also expanding range on its own.
Disbribution map: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cattle_egret#/media/File:Bubulcus_map.svg
ON PEI: Does not breed on Prince Edward Island, sightings rare (see photo below).
CONSERVATION: Population widespread around the globe and increasing, not at risk.
NOTES: Cattle egrets have figured out that following park maintenance crews in Hawaii, they would find good sources of food (photos and videos below). One cattle egret was so tame that it came around tables looking for food scraps (see photos and videos below).
SIMILAR SPECIES: Little Blue Heron (juvenile), Snowy Egret
REFERENCES: https://nature.mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/field-guide/cattle-egret (Missouri Department of Conservation)
https://www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/cattle-egret
https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Cattle_Egret/id
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cattle_egret
https://guides.nynhp.org/cattle-egret/ (New York Natural Heritage Program)
http://nzbirdsonline.org.nz/species/cattle-egret
http://www.birdsinbackyards.net/species/Ardea-ibis
https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/wildlife-guides/bird-a-z/cattle-egret/
http://www.nhptv.org/natureworks/cattleegret.htm (New Hampshire PBS)
https://identify.whatbird.com/obj/45/_/Cattle_Egret.aspx
https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Bubulcus_ibis/ (University of Michigan)
About some of the photos below at the Whole Foods store in Kailua - there was a Cattle egret 'begging' for food handouts from people eating at the picnic tables outside the store. The bird was chasing away the pigeons and zebra doves, the species usually found around places where people are eating. It seems like this cattle egret learned how to easily access food. Not only that, but it would only accept chicken (meat), not cheese or bread. A true carnivore indeed. Since the bird was so close, it was a great opportunity to get a few close ups.
The first video shows a cattle egret literally walking on 'hedge', foraging on top of a hedge in front of the Hawaiian Hilton Village in Waikiki:
This video below shows an injured cattle egret with what seems like a thorn in its left leg (taken at Fort DeRussy Park, Waikiki):
This cattle egret below would not accept rice grains or other vegetable as handout, only meat - chicken! This bird is essentially carnivorous.
In this video below, the same cattle egret is seen as panting:
A cattle egret hunting on a lawn walks behind a tree but does not appear on the other side immediately (kind of 'now-you-see-me-now-you-don't type of game):
Cattle egrets have learned that by following machinery on lawns or in fields, they can catch more prey:
DESCRIPTION: The Cattle Egret is white with a yellow bill and dark grey legs. Eyes are yellow. In breeding plumage there is a reddish tinge on the breast plumes. Sexes are similar. Bird length is about 50 cm (20 inches).
VOICE: https://www.xeno-canto.org/species/Bubulcus-ibis
NAME: ‘Cattle’ in the name relates to the bird’s habits. ‘Egret’ comes from French ‘aigrette’, which refers to the bird’s feathers used as ornaments in the past. Latin genus name ‘Bubulcus’ means ‘concerning cattle’. Latin species name ‘Ibis’ comes from ancient Egyptian ‘ibis’. Applied in error by Carl Linnaeus, as this bird is part of the Heron family, not the Ibis.
HABITAT: ‘Traditionally’, i.e. in natural settings, cattle egrets accompany cattle feeding on insects and other small animals, and will rid cattle of the pests that plague them, such as ticks and flies. Their adapting to human environments makes their presence now seen in city parks and also around airports.
DIET: Insects, arthropods, small reptiles, bird eggs/nestlings, some fish, also garbage.
NESTING: Nest in colonies in treetops near marshlands and coastal habitats, sometimes mixing with other species of herons. Three to seven light blue eggs are laid, incubated by both parents. Chicks fed by both parents.
DISTRIBUTION: Native to Africa, Europe, and parts of Asia, introduced in many countries including Hawaii (from Florida in the 1950s) in the USA. Also expanding range on its own.
Disbribution map: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cattle_egret#/media/File:Bubulcus_map.svg
ON PEI: Does not breed on Prince Edward Island, sightings rare (see photo below).
CONSERVATION: Population widespread around the globe and increasing, not at risk.
NOTES: Cattle egrets have figured out that following park maintenance crews in Hawaii, they would find good sources of food (photos and videos below). One cattle egret was so tame that it came around tables looking for food scraps (see photos and videos below).
SIMILAR SPECIES: Little Blue Heron (juvenile), Snowy Egret
REFERENCES: https://nature.mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/field-guide/cattle-egret (Missouri Department of Conservation)
https://www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/cattle-egret
https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Cattle_Egret/id
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cattle_egret
https://guides.nynhp.org/cattle-egret/ (New York Natural Heritage Program)
http://nzbirdsonline.org.nz/species/cattle-egret
http://www.birdsinbackyards.net/species/Ardea-ibis
https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/wildlife-guides/bird-a-z/cattle-egret/
http://www.nhptv.org/natureworks/cattleegret.htm (New Hampshire PBS)
https://identify.whatbird.com/obj/45/_/Cattle_Egret.aspx
https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Bubulcus_ibis/ (University of Michigan)
About some of the photos below at the Whole Foods store in Kailua - there was a Cattle egret 'begging' for food handouts from people eating at the picnic tables outside the store. The bird was chasing away the pigeons and zebra doves, the species usually found around places where people are eating. It seems like this cattle egret learned how to easily access food. Not only that, but it would only accept chicken (meat), not cheese or bread. A true carnivore indeed. Since the bird was so close, it was a great opportunity to get a few close ups.
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| Cattle egret and Rock pigeon waiting for food handouts - Whole Foods, Kailua |
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| Cattle egret head, Whole Foods, Kailua |
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| Cattle egret head close up, Kailua |
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| Cattle egret close up of neck and breast |
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| Cattle egret feet, Whole Foods, Kailua |
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| Cattle egret, Ala Moana Park, Oahu |
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| Cattle egret back view, Ala Moana Park |
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| Cattle egrets looking for grubs after lawnmower pass, Ala Moana Park |
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| Cattle egret near garbage container, Ala Moana Park, Oahu - Dec. 14, 2018 |
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| Cattle egret on African buffalo, justifying its name - Tanzania, Jan. 2018 |
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| Cattle egret on African buffalo, closer view |
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| Cattle egret in potato field in PEI, by Kevin Shaw |
The first video shows a cattle egret literally walking on 'hedge', foraging on top of a hedge in front of the Hawaiian Hilton Village in Waikiki:
This video below shows an injured cattle egret with what seems like a thorn in its left leg (taken at Fort DeRussy Park, Waikiki):
This cattle egret below would not accept rice grains or other vegetable as handout, only meat - chicken! This bird is essentially carnivorous.
In this video below, the same cattle egret is seen as panting:
A cattle egret hunting on a lawn walks behind a tree but does not appear on the other side immediately (kind of 'now-you-see-me-now-you-don't type of game):
Cattle egrets have learned that by following machinery on lawns or in fields, they can catch more prey: