Cattle Egret
Bubulcus ibis
Originally native to parts of Asia and Africa, the Cattle Egret has undergone a rapid expansion in its distribution and colonized much of the rest of the world. This expansion was first noted in the 1800s. In 1933, they expanded their range from Africa and reached northern South America. By the early 1950s they’d crossed the Isthmus of Panama, and by the early 1960s they reached Texas and the southeastern states of the USA. They continue to expand their range to this day.
We know Cattle Egrets by various names around the world, depending on the large herbivores they follow. Sometimes the birds ride on the backs of their hosts, catching the bugs kicked up during grazing. Yet these versatile birds have learned that fires will move invertebrate creatures out of hiding, and when they see smoke, they will fly towards the fires to exploit this food source.
In 2013, I subscribed to a membership pass for the San Diego Zoo, knowing it would give me access to the wild birds that nest at the Safari Park near Escondido (California). I was especially interested in the heron rookeries in the park. Cattle Egrets were among the more interesting photo subjects I found nesting within view from the public areas. During my visit to Texas in 2021, I met a single bird during a visit to the Edinburg Scenic Wetlands near McAllen. Later, on South Padre Island, I saw a group of them. But the distance, in both cases, was too far to attempt a photograph.
Today, science recognises two subspecies of Cattle Egret:
- B. i. ibis lives in Africa, southern Europe, and the Americas.
- B. i. coromandus lives in India, southeast Asia, and east to Australia and New Zealand.
Cattle Egret(Bubulcus ibis) |
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Description: Foraging at Cibola NWR, South of Blyth, CA. In Arizona near the Colorado River. |
Date Taken: 2006:02:16 15:07 |
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Location:
Goose Loop |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 550 mm, f/9.5, 1/320 |
File Name: JCD1567CattleEgret |
| © 2006 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Cattle Egret(Bubulcus ibis) |
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Description: Breeding display at Cibola NWR, South of Blyth, CA. In Arizona near the Colorado River. |
Date Taken: 2004:04:02 12:57 |
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Location:
Goose Loop |
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Camera Information: NIKON D1X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/125 |
File Name: JCD_6331CattleEgret |
| © 2004 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Cattle Egret(Bubulcus ibis) |
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Description: Foraging at Cibola NWR, South of Blyth, CA. In Arizona near the Colorado River. |
Date Taken: 2004:04:02 12:34 |
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Location:
Goose Loop |
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Camera Information: NIKON D1X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/640 |
File Name: JCD_6299CattleEgret |
| © 2004 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Cattle Egret(Bubulcus ibis) |
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Description: (Bubulcus ibis) Foraging in flooded field. Near Lindsey Road. Salton Sea Vicinity. Imperial County, California USA 2002-02-17. |
Date Taken: 2009:02:20 22:57 |
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Location:
Fondo |
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Camera Information: Nikon SUPER COOLSCAN 4000 ED, |
File Name: A2B17b17-CattleEgret |
| © 2009 - Jack Daynes - shadeTree Imaging |
Cattle Egret(Bubulcus ibis) |
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Description: (Bubulcus ibis) Lift off at the rookery at Ramer Lake. Salton Sea Vicinity. Imperial County, California USA 2009-11-25. |
Date Taken: 2009:11:25 16:35 |
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Location:
Ramer Lake |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/3200 |
File Name: JCD7636.CattleEgret |
| © 2009 - Jack Daynes - shadeTree Imaging |
Cattle Egret(Bubulcus ibis) |
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Description: (Bubulcus ibis) Flying in to roost at Ramer Lake. Salton Sea Vicinity. Imperial County, California USA 2009-07-05. |
Date Taken: 2009:11:25 16:23 |
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Location:
Ramer Lake |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/3000 |
File Name: JCD7543.CattleEgret |
| © 2009 - Jack Daynes - shadeTree Imaging |
Cattle Egret(Bubulcus ibis) |
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Description: (Bubulcus ibis) Flying in to roost at Ramer Lake. Salton Sea Vicinity. Imperial County, California USA 2009-07-05. |
Date Taken: 2009:07:05 11:06 |
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Location:
Ramer Lake |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 800 mm, f/7.1, 1/2500 |
File Name: JCD2077.CattleEgret |
| © 2009 - Jack Daynes - shadeTree Imaging |
Cattle Egret(Bubulcus ibis) |
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Description: Active Rookery with Cattle, Great and Snowy Egrets (and more) and Double Crested Cormorants. Ramer Lake. Salton Sea Vicinity. Imperial County, California. |
Date Taken: 2009:07:05 10:45 |
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Location:
Ramer Lake |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 800 mm, f/7.1, 1/1500 |
File Name: JCD2002.CattleEgret.Rookery |
| © 2007 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Cattle Egret(Bubulcus ibis) |
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Description: (Bubulcus ibis) Foraging in flooded field near Lindsey Road. Salton Sea Vicinity. Imperial County, California USA 2009-07-05. |
Date Taken: 2009:07:04 17:05 |
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Location:
Fondo |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/2000 |
File Name: JCD1659.CattleEgret |
| © 2009 - Jack Daynes - shadeTree Imaging |
Cattle Egret(Bubulcus ibis) |
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Description: Wild birds nesting at the San Diego Wild Animal Park. Escondido, California. |
Date Taken: 2012:05:06 10:39 |
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Location:
San Pasqual |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 550 mm, f/6.3, 1/200 |
File Name: D3X2109-CattleEgret-Nest |
| © 2007 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Cattle Egret(Bubulcus ibis) |
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Description: (Bubulcus ibis) Breeding plumage at the Safari Park (Formerly San Diego Wild Animal Park). Escondido, California. San Diego County USA 2013-05-05. |
Date Taken: 2013:05:05 11:23 |
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Location:
San Pasqual |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/2000 |
File Name: D3X6293-CattleEgret |
| © 2007 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Cattle Egret(Bubulcus ibis) |
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Description: Safari Park (Formerly San Diego Wild Animal Park). Escondido, California. San Diego County. |
Date Taken: 2013:05:05 11:21 |
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Location:
San Pasqual |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/2000 |
File Name: D3X6273-CattleEgret |
| © 2007 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Cattle Egret(Bubulcus ibis) |
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Description: (Bubulcus ibis) Nesting at the Safari Park (Formerly San Diego Wild Animal Park). Escondido, California. San Diego County USA 2013-05-05. |
Date Taken: 2013:05:05 10:59 |
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Location:
San Pasqual |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/1000 |
File Name: D3X6194-CattleEgret-Nest-Feeding |
| © 2013 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging |
Cattle Egret(Bubulcus ibis) |
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Description: Safari Park (Formerly San Diego Wild Animal Park). Escondido, California. San Diego County. |
Date Taken: 2013:05:05 10:58 |
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Location:
San Pasqual |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/1600 |
File Name: D3X6168-CattleEgret-Nest |
| © 2007 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Cattle Egret(Bubulcus ibis) |
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Description: (Bubulcus ibis) Nesting at the Safari Park (Formerly San Diego Wild Animal Park). Escondido, California. San Diego County USA 2013-05-05. |
Date Taken: 2013:05:05 10:58 |
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Location:
San Pasqual |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/1000 |
File Name: D3X6163-CattleEgret-Nest-Feeding |
| © 2013 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging |
Cattle Egret(Bubulcus ibis) |
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Description: (Bubulcus ibis) Safari Park (Formerly San Diego Wild Animal Park). Escondido, California. San Diego County USA 2013-05-05. |
Date Taken: 2013:05:05 9:54 |
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Location:
San Pasqual |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/1250 |
File Name: D3X6070-CattleEgret |
| © 2013 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging |
Cattle Egret(Bubulcus ibis) |
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Description: Safari Park (Formerly San Diego Wild Animal Park). Escondido, California. San Diego County. |
Date Taken: 2013:05:05 9:31 |
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Location:
San Pasqual |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/800 |
File Name: D3X5934-CattleEgret |
| © 2007 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Cattle Egret(Bubulcus ibis) |
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Description: Wild birds nesting at the San Diego Wild Animal Park. Escondido, California. |
Date Taken: 2012:05:06 10:50 |
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Location:
San Pasqual |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 550 mm, f/6.3, 1/320 |
File Name: D3X2142-CattleEgret |
| © 2007 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Cattle Egret(Bubulcus ibis) |
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Description: Prey captured. A bird not often found in Poway. I found this bird scouting for the Christmas Bird Count at Community Park in Poway California. San Diego County. |
Date Taken: 2020:01:03 12:06 |
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Location:
Community Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON Z 7, 320 mm, f/14.0, 1/640 |
File Name: CattleEgret_Z7X0466-PowayCommunityPark |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Cattle Egret(Bubulcus ibis) |
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Description: Day's end at Ramer Lake. Between Calpatria and Brawley in Imperial County and east of the Salton Sea, California. |
Date Taken: 2017:04:20 18:06 |
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Location:
Ramer Lake |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: CattleEgret_D5X6039 |
| © 2007 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Cattle Egret(Bubulcus ibis) |
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Description: There were interesting birds, like this Cattle Egret, at the far side of the large pond, and too distant for good photographs. I had an errand to run in McAllen Texas on Saturday and took the opportunity to meet a new birding location in the area, called the Edinburg Scenic Wetlands. What a lovely place! |
Date Taken: 2021:02:06 12:42 |
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Location:
Edinburg Scenic Wetlands |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/11.0, 1/800 |
File Name: CattleEgret_D5X9198-Edinburg |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Cattle Egret(Bubulcus ibis) |
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Description: Down the hatch! A bird not often found in Poway. I found this bird scouting for the Christmas Bird Count at Community Park in Poway California. San Diego County. |
Date Taken: 2020:01:03 12:11 |
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Location:
Community Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON Z 7, 340 mm, f/14.0, 1/1000 |
File Name: CattleEgret_Z7X0728-PowayCommunityPark |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Cattle Egret(Bubulcus ibis) |
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Description: Egret showing its impression of a robin to the worm. A bird not often found in Poway. I found this bird scouting for the Christmas Bird Count at Community Park in Poway California. San Diego County. |
Date Taken: 2020:01:03 12:13 |
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Location:
Community Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON Z 7, 340 mm, f/14.0, 1/1000 |
File Name: CattleEgret_Z7X0770-PowayCommunityPark |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Cattle Egret(Bubulcus ibis) |
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Description: Almost caught. A bird not often found in Poway. I found this bird scouting for the Christmas Bird Count at Community Park in Poway California. San Diego County. |
Date Taken: 2020:01:03 12:07 |
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Location:
Community Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON Z 7, 340 mm, f/14.0, 1/1000 |
File Name: CattleEgret_Z7X0511-PowayCommunityPark |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Snowy Egret(Egretta thula) |
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Description: Flying in with the Cattle Egrets at day's end at Ramer Lake. Between Calpatria and Brawley in Imperial County and east of the Salton Sea, California. |
Date Taken: 2017:04:20 18:03 |
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Location:
Ramer Lake |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1000 |
File Name: SnowyEgretCattleEgret_D5X5993-Small |
| © 2017 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Cattle Egret(Bubulcus ibis) |
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Description: Day's end at Ramer Lake. Between Calpatria and Brawley in Imperial County and east of the Salton Sea, California. |
Date Taken: 2017:04:20 18:06 |
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Location:
Ramer Lake |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: CattleEgret_D5X6021 |
| © 2007 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Cattle Egret(Bubulcus ibis) |
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Description: Safari Park (Formerly San Diego Wild Animal Park). Escondido, California. San Diego County. |
Date Taken: 2013:05:05 11:23 |
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Location:
San Pasqual |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/1000 |
File Name: D3X6289-CattleEgret |
| © 2013 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging |
Cattle Egret(Bubulcus ibis) |
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Description: Seen west of El Centro in the Imperial Valley in southern California. |
Date Taken: 2017:04:19 11:36 |
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Location:
Wilsie |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/2500 |
File Name: CattleEgret-_D5X5023 |
| © 2017 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
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