CATTLE EGRET (Bubulcus ibis)
is a cosmopolitan species of heron (family Ardeidae) found in the tropics, subtropics and warm
temperate zones. It is the only member of themonotypic genus Bubulcus, although some authorities regard its two subspecies
as full species, the Western Cattle Egret and the Eastern Cattle Egret. Despite the similarities in plumage to the
egrets of the genus Egretta, it
is more closely related to the herons of Ardea.
Originally native to parts of Asia, Africa and Europe, it has undergone a rapid
expansion in its distribution and successfully colonised much of the rest of the
world.
The Cattle Egret is a stocky heron with
a 88–96 cm (35–38 in) wingspan; it is 46–56 cm (18–22 in)
long and weighs 270–512 g (9.5–18.1 oz).
The Cattle Egret feeds on a wide range of prey,
particularly insects, especially grasshoppers, crickets,flies (adults
and maggots), and moths, as well asspiders, frogs, and earthworms. In a rare instance they have been
observed foraging along the branches of aBanyan tree
for ripe figs. The species is
usually found with cattle and
other large grazing and browsing animals, and catches small creatures disturbed
by the mammals. [INFO:WIKIPEDIA]
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