Cattle Egret - Bubulcus ibis
Slightly smaller than the Little Egret. Cattle Egrets have yellow or greyish legs and a yellow beak, compared to the black legs (with yellow feet) and black beak of the Little Egret.
As their name suggests, Cattle Egrets tend to associate with livestock as the animals' hooves disturb invertebrate prey. Most likely to be seen in the south of England and Wales.
Could be seen at any time of year, though birds congregate in flocks during winter.
First pair to breed successfully in Britain was in 2008.
Much rarer than the Little Egret, Cattle Egrets are visiting the UK in increasing numbers.
Still rare in Leicestershire and Rutland. Previous record was of one at Rutland Water from 3rd to 15th April 1993
Leicestershire & Rutland Map
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Species profile
- Common names
- Cattle Egret, Western Cattle Egret
- Species group:
- Birds
- Kingdom:
- Animalia
- Order:
- Ciconiiformes
- Family:
- Ardeidae
- Records on NatureSpot:
- 10
- First record:
- 05/05/2009 (Jones, Dick)
- Last record:
- 28/06/2024 (Gaten, Ted)
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% of records within its species group
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