CATTLE EGRET Bubulcus ibis
Despite originating in Africa, the adaptable Cattle Egret has managed to increase its distribution on the back of extensive cattle ranching to become almost a cosmopolitan species. The first individuals arrived in South America in Brazil in the early 1960s, but it is now one of the most widespread species on the continent often seen perching on the backs of cattle as they graze. Non-breeding birds are wholly white, while breeding birds adopt buffy-cinnamon patches on the crown and breast.
FIGURE 1 - Flock loafing, Laguna Hans PROCOSARA, PN San Rafael (Paul Smith March 2007).
FIGURE 2 - Flock in flight with single Cocoi Heron, location unknown (Arne Lesterhuis undated).
 | FIGURE 1 |
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 | FLIGHT 2 |
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Designed by Paul Smith 2006. This website is copyrighted by law.
Material contained herewith may not be used without the prior written permission of FAUNA Paraguay.
Photographs on this web-site were taken by Paul Smith, Hemme Batjes, Regis Nossent,
Alberto Esquivel, Arne Lesterhuis, José Luis Cartes, Rebecca Zarza and Hugo del Castillo and are used with their permission.
To hear the call of this species hold the mouse over the tab above but do not click the button! It may take a few seconds to download but the button will turn pink when the call is ready to play. Longer versions of this call can be downloaded from the Paraguay page of our partner website Xeno-Canto - the largest collection of freely downloadable Neotropical bird calls available online.
calls from loafing flock recorded PROCOSARA, PN San Rafael (Paul Smith March 2007).
