Birds of India | Bird World: Cattle egret

Taxonomic classification
Binomial name:	Bubulcus ibis
Species:	B. ibis
Genus:	Bubulcus
Subfamily:	-
Family:	Ardeidae
Order:	Pelecaniformes
Class:	Aves
Phylum:	Chordata
Kingdom:	Animalia

Taxonomic classification

Binomial name:

Bubulcus ibis

Species:

B. ibis

Genus:

Bubulcus

Subfamily:

Family:

Ardeidae

Order:

Pelecaniformes

Class:

Aves

Phylum:

Chordata

Kingdom:

Animalia

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Taxonomy

Scientific Name: Bubulcus ibis
Common Name: Cattle egret
French: Héron garde-boeufs; German: Kuhreiher; Spanish: Garcilla bueyera;
Other names: Ardea ibis, Christidis and Boles (2008); Western cattle egret; Eastern cattle egret;
Family: Ardeidae › Pelecaniformes › Aves › Chordata › Animalia
Species author: (Linnaeus, 1758)

The three recognized egret subspecies are:
B. i. ibis (Linnaeus, 1758), B. i. coromandus (Boddaert, 1783) and B. i. seychellarum (Salomonsen, 1934).

Indian birds - Cattle egret - Bubulcus ibis

Description

The cattle egret is a medium sized bird, measuring 45 to 55 cm in length and weighing 250 to 500 grams. The wingspan is 90 to 95 cm.

The egret has a hunched posture. The non breeding birds have complete white plumage with yellow bill and yellow-grey legs.

In the breeding season, the feathers on the head, breast, crown and back turn an orange-red. The bill, irises and legs may also turn orange red. Their vocal call is something like 'rick--rack' with stress on the first syllable.

Habitat

The cattle egret species inhabit grasslands, meadows, dry agricultural fields, open savannas, floodplains, swamps, paddy-fields, wet pastures, marshes and mangroves. They are very rarely seen in wooded areas and open oceans.

Feeding habits

The cattle egret species are often seen taking a ride on the back of cattle or wild herds. They catch insects, especially, beetles, dragonflies, mayflies, crickets, spiders, locusts and grasshoppers disturbed and flushed out by the animal movement.

The also feed on ripe fruits, vegetable matter, fish, frogs, small reptiles, birds and mammals.

Breeding

The cattle egret species breed year round in tropical regions. The egrets in North America breed during April and May. The nest is constructed on trees and thickets with twigs.

Distribution

The cattle egret species are found in all the Continents. The subspecies B. i. ibis occurs in Southwest Europe, Caspian Sea region, Africa, Madagascar and Americas.

The subspecies B. i. coromandus occurs in Southeast Asia, Indian Subcontinent, China, Japan, Australia and New Zealand. The subspecies B. i. seychellarum occurs in Seychelles.

Movement Patterns

Post breeding dispersal is extensive. These egret species are partially migratory and move southwards for wintering. Birds from North America migrate to South America for wintering. They make long-distance dispersive movements in search of food sources.

Status and conservation

The worldwide dispersal and the presence of large breeding populations of these egrets indicate no threat to their conservation in the near future. They may get exposed to pesticides in the agricultural fields. These egret species are hunted and traded in Nigeria to supply the traditional medicine markets.

The IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) has categorized and evaluated these egret species and has listed them as of "Least Concern".

Biological classification of Bubulcus ibis
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Pelecaniformes
Family:	Ardeidae
Subfamily:	-
Genus:	Bubulcus
Species:	B. ibis
Binomial name:	Bubulcus ibis
Distribution:	Indian Subcontinent, Asia, Australia, Europe, Africa and Americas;
Feeding habits:	insects, crustaceans, frogs, tadpoles, molluscs, fish, lizards, small birds, rodents and vegetable matter;
IUCN status listing:	Least Concern

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Image source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Red-flush_Cattle_Egret.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/63766699@N00/151198764/
Author: su neko | License: CC BY 2.0
Current topic in Birds of India: Cattle egret - Bubulcus ibis.

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Cattle egret taxonomy

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