Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis
Cattle Egret, Cobargo, NSW, Australia, April 2006 - click for larger image Cobargo, NSW, Australia
April 2006

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 probably arrived in Northern Territory in the 1940s and are now found throughout most of Australia except the arid centre. They may even have been introduced by stock farmers to help control some of the insects that they feed on.

Cattle Egret, Cobargo, NSW, Australia, April 2006 - click for larger image They get their English name from the fact that they are often seen near cattle as well as other animals on which they rely to disturb their prey. These photos were taken on a cattle farm but the bird appeared to be solitary. They are more normally seen in small groups.

This bird is in non-breeding plumage showing its yellow bill and eye as well as its dark legs. In breeding plumage it shows orange-buff plumes on its head, neck and back.
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