Cattle Egrets now common sight in southern pastures

A Birder’s 

Point of View

By Brad McBee

The first time I saw a Cattle Egret I thought I had somehow taken a journey to the African Savannah. That is not far from the truth because the Cattle Egret originated on that continent. In Africa, they are often known as Rhino Birds or Elephant Birds, making their way to South America in the 1870s and then eventually to United States in 1952. 

The Cattle Egret can now be commonly found in vast parts of the southern United States although it has been recorded as far north as Canada. 

A shore bird that would rather hang around with cattle than on the beach, the Cattle Egret can be seen following cattle through the fields eating the insects that are stirred by the cattle’s movement. Sometimes the Cattle Egret will even catch a ride on a cow, eating the ticks and fleas off them and bringing some relief to their host.

Cattle Egrets are a stocky white member of the heron family and have a rounder head. They have a hunched posture even when standing upright and stand some 17” to 22” tall. White with yellowish orange bills and orangish legs, during mating season mature birds crowns and backs take on a buffy coloration. Mating seems to be something they do rather well since the Cattle Egret now outnumbers the combined populations of all other egrets and herons found in North America.

Next time you look over a herd of cattle, keep an eye out for these marvelous birds.