Al Ain, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
December 2010

The Cattle Egret is now a fairly cosmopolitan bird that originated in Africa and southern Spain but has, in the last 100 years or so invaded the Americas, Asia and Australia. It is a common migrant and winter visitor to the UAE and has recently been breeding in the area.

This bird, photographed in December, is in non-breeding plumage. Breeding plumage shows orange-buff on the head and breast.