Cattle Egrets
(Bubulcus ibis)
It is a medium-sized egret with white plumage highlighted by buff when breeding, yellow bill, legs, and feet, all of which turn red in breeding season. Unlike most other egrets and herons, it hunts almost exclusively on land, often side by side with grazing mammals whose movements stir up insects for the birds to consume. It typically forages in large groups, and I have found it to be more shy around humans than some of the other egrets and herons.
(Bubulcus ibis)
It is a medium-sized egret with white plumage highlighted by buff when breeding, yellow bill, legs, and feet, all of which turn red in breeding season. Unlike most other egrets and herons, it hunts almost exclusively on land, often side by side with grazing mammals whose movements stir up insects for the birds to consume. It typically forages in large groups, and I have found it to be more shy around humans than some of the other egrets and herons.
During breeding season, it can be found in large communes with other egrets and herons. They are not a very “showy” egret except during breeding and then their plumage and colors are amazing. When I first moved back to Florida in the early 1990's, I would see them along the road side or in fields with cattle and thought them to be a rather common-looking bird. After seeing the images of the breeding Cattle Egret, would you call him a "common-looking bird"?
