Cattle Egret

Bubulcus ibis

Identification Tips:

• Sexes similar
• Fairly small
• Short, thick pointed bill
• White body plumage
• Tucks neck in close to body in flight and often at rest, rarely extending it
• Often seen feeding in pastures or other open habitats away from water

Adult alternate:

• Only very briefly attains full alternate plumage
• Deep red bill
• Deep red legs
• Buffy feathering around the head, neck and back

Adult basic:

• Bill dull orange or yellow
• Legs dull orange
• Entirely white body plumage

Immature:

• Black bill turns pale yellow by early fall
• Dusky legs

Habitat: Farms, marshes, highway edges (Florida); associates with cattle.

Diet: Insects

Similar species: Quite unlike any other heron. Much smaller than Great Egret or "Great White" Heron. Smaller than Snowy Egret and immature Little Blue Heron and with orange instead of dark or bicolored bills.

Image© by permission of Dr. Daniel Sudia for educational purposes.