Bubulcus ibis (Linnaeus, 1758)

A stocky white bird often seen in grasslands and paddy fields, accompanying cattle and other large mammals, catching insects and other small vertebrates disturbed by these animals. During the breeding season it aquires orange - buff coloured plumes on the back, crown and crown.

This is a short, stocky egret, which is very similar to the Little Egret, but is distinguished by its short yellow bill and yellowish legs. It has a white plumage except in the breeding season, when the head, neck and back are orange-buff in colour. It is almost always found with grazing cattle, not necessarily near water. It is a gregarious bird, usually in scattered groups on grassland and forest glades as well as damp and swampy ground. It stands fearlessly amongst the cattle, and stalks along pouncing on grasshoppers and other insects disturbed by the cattle. It can also be seen jumping up to pluck insects off the side of a cow’s belly, and feeding on insects whilst riding on the backs of cattle. It feeds on a variety of insects, but will also eat tadpoles, frogs and lizards. Groups will also gather on newly ploughed fields, and follow the tractor to feed on the insects and other prey disturbed by the plough. It roosts communally with crows, mynas and other birds. Normally it is silent, but does utter occasional low croaks when roosting or at the nest.

B. i. ibis (Linnaeus, 1758) B. i. coromandus (Boddaert, 1783) B. i. seychellarum (Salomonsen, 1934)

The season, depending on the monsoons, is mainly June to August in N. India ; November /December in the south. The birds breed in colonies usually in company with PaddyBirds and sometimes also with Darters, cormorants and herons. The nest is of the usual crow pattern—an untidy structure of twigs. It is built in trees not necessarily near water and often in the midst of a noisy bazaar in a town or village. Three to 5 eggs form the normal clutch. They are a pale skim-milk blue in colour.

A snow-white lanky bird, very similar in non-breeding plumage to the Little Egret, but recognisable by the colour of its bill which is yellow not black. In the breeding season it acquires delicate golden-buff hair-like plumes on head, neck and back. Sexes alike.

The Cattle Egret is less dependent on the neighbourhood of water than are most of its family. It is met with gregariously on grass- and pasture-land both on the margins of tanks and jheels as well as further inland. The birds are in constant attendance on grazing cattle, stalking alongside the animals, running in and out between their legs, or riding on their backs for a change. They keep an unceasing look-out for the grasshoppers and other insects disturbed in the animals' progress through the grass, darting out their long flexible necks and pointed bills and snapping them up as soon as they show any movement. They also pick off blood-sucking flies, ticks and other parasitic insects from the backs and bellies of the oxen and buffaloes, jumping up for them as they scurry alongside or alighting complacently on the animals' heads and backs to reach the less accessible parts. Their staple food, unlike that of their marsh-haunting cousins, is insects, but they do not despise frogs and lizards whenever available. Flies—both the House-Fly and the Blue-bottle-—are greatly relished. The birds are as a rule tame, running or stalking about fearlessly amongst the cattle within a few feet of the observer, and completely engrossed in the search for food. Cattle Egrets have regular roosts in favourite trees to which they resort every evening, flying more or less in a disorderly rabble, with neck folded back, head hunched in between the shoulders, legs tucked under the tail and projecting behind like a rudder.

Mostly seen in grazing cattle, stalking energetically alongside the animal.

Gregarious. Usually attending grazing cattle. Not necessarily near water.

IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern

Red List Category & Criteria: Least Concern ver 3.1

Large colonies in urban areas are considered a nuiscance and are persecuted. Habitat degradation and destruction. Pesticide poisoning