ANIMAL: Western Cattle Egret Ardea ibis Type of Animal: Heron Habitat: Fields, farmland/agricultural land, cropland, areas w/ grazing animals, livestock pens, wetlands, grassland, grassy savanna, floodplains, wetland fringes, semi-arid scrub, pastures, marine shorelines, coastal areas, coastal barrier islands, marshes, lakes, reservoirs, swamps, woodland near rivers/lakes, upland forest, quarries, highway edges, lawns, open roadsides, rice paddies, dry grassy areas, mangroves, semi-arid steppe, small coastal islands, air strips, tropical moist forest Location(s): Native to S & W Asia, Africa, S Europe, & the Americas. Vagrant on sub-Antarctic islands. Introduced to Hawaii, Seychelles, & Rodrigues. Vagrants have been seen in Fiji. Appearance: Stocky white heron w/ short thick neck & sturdy yellow bill. Nonbreeding adults have greyish-yellow legs. Breeding adults develop orange-buff plumes on back/breast/crown w/ bill/legs/irises becoming redder. Males have longer breeding plumes. Juveniles have black bill/legs. Food/Diet: Insects, ticks, spiders, worms, crayfish, millipedes, centipedes, fish, frogs, small mammals, birds, eggs, snakes, lizards Status in Wild: Stable Lifestyle: Flocks number 10-250 birds. Breeding colonies can range from 100-30,000 birds. Additional Info: Called: Male: Cock Female: Hen Young: Chick Group: Heronry Weight: 12.69 oz Gestation: 1 month Life Span: 12-20 years Height: 1.5-1.84 ft Body Length: 1.5-1.84 ft Main predators of adults are large corvids, raptors, procyonids, canids, crocodilians, bears, snapping turtles, snakes, mustelids, & felids. Night herons & grackles prey on chicks. Fire ants prey on chicks & occasionally, adults. However, adult egrets often eat fire ants. Many birds & mammals prey on chicks & eggs. Usually nest near water. This species has undergone one of most rapid/widespread natural expansion of any bird species. Spread from Africa to NE South America in 1870s. 1st seen in North America in 1941. Have 2.88-3.15 ft wingspan. Maturity reached at 1.5 years. Chicks leave nest at 1.5-3 months. Often colonially nest w/ other wading bird species. Clutches range from 1-9 eggs. Fun Fact(s): Also called Elephant Bird, Rhino Egret, Hippo Egret, Cow Crane, Cow Heron, Cow Bird, & Buff-Backed Heron. These birds fly to smoke to catch prey fleeing fire. These birds beneficial due to preying on many pests. Get name from habit of being near cattle/other grazing animals. Follow cattle/other grazing animals to catch small prey disturbed by large animals. They’ll also prey on pests bothering large animals. They also follow farm equipment. They’ll even wait for planes to pass by grass to blow prey out.
