Cattle Egret

51 cm (20") Common. Open fields, marshes, along highways. Breeds near water with other herons.

White, crow-sized, stocky heron. Bill yellow-orange; legs vary from orange to yellow-green. Breeding adult has orange-buff plumes on head, back, and breast. Great Egret is much larger and slender; Snowy Egret has black bill.

Often feeds on stirred up insects along livestock, behind tractors, or picks insects off backs of animals.

Song: hoarse croaking.

Videos

Images

Credit: Len Blumin

Credit: Mathew Paulson

Credit: David Cook

Credit: Alison

Distribution Maps

Cattle Egret winter distribution map

Cattle Egret distribution map