cattle egret (Bubulcus ibis)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CONFIRMATION STATUS: Confirmed.

 

IDENTIFICATION:

• Length: 17 inches Wingspan: 37 inches

• Sexes similar

• Fairly small

• Short, thick pointed bill

• White body plumage

• Tucks neck in close to body in flight and often at rest, rarely extend-             ing it

• Often seen feeding in pastures or other open habitats away fromwater

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

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.

 

LIFE HISTORY

Migration Status: N/A
Breeding Habitat: Wetland-open water
Nest Location: N/A
Nest Type: N/A
Clutch Size: 2-6
Length of Incubation: 22-26 days
Days to Fledge: 30
Number of Broods: 1
Diet: Mostly insects

 

SKY MEADOWS DISTRIBUTION/SEASONAL OCCURRENCE

 

Relative abundance and seasonal occurrence are indicated in red below.

 

Relative abundance
     C - Common: Likely to be present in good numbers in appropriate habitat and season.
     U - Uncommon: May be present in appropriate habitat and season, often in low
            numbers.
     O - Occassional: Found in appropriate habitat perhaps only a few times per season,
            sometimes low numbers.
     R - Rare: May not be recorded every year.
     Acc - Accidental: Recorded once or twice, may not be expected again for a long time.

 

Seasonal Occurrence
      Sp - Spring: March, April, May
      Su - Summer: June, July, August Acc
      Fall: September, October, November

      Winter: December, January, February

 

 

Back to Inventory of Bird Families and Species