Birds of Texas

Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis) 20"

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(Click on picture to enlarge)

© Walter Bauer, Sugar Land, Texas - 1998

Field Marks:

                            This is a small white heron that associates with grazing cattle. They are slightly smaller, stockier and thicker necked than a snowy egret. This particular cattle egret was in a field on the back of a cow.
Voice: A variety of croaking notes in breeding season.
Where found: This bird is a colonizer of the old world origin via South America.
Texas: This bird reached Texas by 1955 and was breeding by 1958. It is common along the coast and perhaps other parts of the state.

Habitat: Cows.

Nest: A platform of sticks in a bush or tree. They colonize with Snowy Egrets. They lay 3-5 bluish eggs.