Herons (Ardeidae)
Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis) - HBW 1, p. 415
French: Héron garde boeufs
German: Kuhreiher
Spanish: Garcilla Bueyera
Other common names: Buff-backed Heron
Taxonomy: Ardea Ibis Linnaeus, 1758, Egypt.
Alternatively placed in Egretta or Ardeola; work on DNA indicates closer genetic link with Ardea than with Egretta. Race coromandus sometimes treated as allospecies. Validity of race seychellarum has been questioned; only one specimen in breeding plumage known from collections. Three subspecies recognized.
Subspecies and Distribution:
- ibis (Linnaeus, 1758) - Africa and Madagascar; SW Europe to Caspian Sea; N, C & S America, from Canada to Guianas and N Chile; also NE Argentina and scattered parts of Brazil.
- seychellarum (Salomonsen, 1934) - Seychelles.
- coromandus (Boddaert, 1783) - S & E Asia to Australia and New Zealand.
- Least Concern Enlarge map
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Two birds preening in a tree Locality Mindo Valley, Pichincha Province, Ecuador (ssp ibis)
Stefan Behrens 31 August 2005 5 years ago 43 sec 4.6 -
Several birds feeding on a carcass. Locality Nawa Talao Lake, Surendranagar District, Gujarat, India (ssp coromandus)
Josep del Hoyo 18 February 2011 1 year ago 23 sec 4.4 -
A bird on top of a tree preening Locality San Miguel, Santiago de Cali, Valle del Cauca Department, Colombia (ssp ibis)
Pere Sugranyes 20 June 2010 2 years ago 49 sec 4.4 -
A big group seeking for food in a dump Locality Nianing, Thiès Region, Senegal (ssp ibis)
Juan Sanabria 9 January 2007 6 years ago 26 sec 4.4 -
A mixed colony of Cattle Egrets and White Storks Locality Asni, Marrakech-Tensift-El Haouz Region, Morocco (ssp ibis)
Josep del Hoyo 17 May 2006 6 years ago 44 sec 4.4 -
strange swinging neck hunting technique Locality Doñana National Park, Andalucia, Spain (ssp ibis)
Juan Sanabria 28 March 2010 2 years ago 39 sec 4.3 -
A bird eating a lizard. Locality Jardín del Turia, Valencia City, Valencia, Valencian Community, Spain (ssp ibis)
Carlos Fabregat 2 January 2011 9 weeks ago 32 sec 4.3 -
A bird on the nest with chicks Locality Talamarang, Helambu, Nepal (ssp coromanda)
Keith Blomerley 14 May 2004 6 years ago 24 sec 4.3 -
A nest with an adult and two young chicks, all preening Locality Asni, Marrakech-Tensift-El Haouz Region, Morocco (ssp ibis)
Josep del Hoyo 17 May 2006 6 years ago 36 sec 4.3 -
A bird walking, looking for prey. Locality Ebro Delta, Tarragona Province, Catalonia, Spain (ssp ibis)
Jesús Laborda 5 December 2011 1 year ago 45 sec 4.3 -
Different views of a huge group flying to their roosting trees Locality Fatick Region, Senegal (ssp ibis)
Juan Sanabria 31 December 2007 4 years ago 52 sec 4.3 -
strange movements Locality Doñana National Park, Andalucia, Spain (ssp ibis)
Juan Sanabria 28 March 2010 2 years ago 48 sec 4.2 -
A bird perched on a cow and going to the grass looking for food. Locality Dasada, Surendranagar District, Gujarat, India (ssp coromandus)
Josep del Hoyo 18 February 2011 1 year ago 21 sec 4.2 -
A large group of birds roosting on trees Locality Guapi Açu Ecological Reserve (REGUA), Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil (ssp ibis)
Josep del Hoyo 13 July 2007 5 years ago 44 sec 4.1 -
A bird feeding beside a bull Locality Najasa, Cuba (ssp ibis)
Josep del Hoyo 4 August 2004 8 years ago 24 sec 4 -
Two young juveniles calling from a branch until an adult arrives. Locality Santillana Zoo, Santillana del Mar, Cantabria, Spain (ssp ibis)
Carlos Fabregat 26 August 2007 13 weeks ago 42 sec 4 -
A bird softening up a Marine Toad with it's bill in order to ready it for consumption. Locality Cultuurtuin, Paramaribo, Paramaribo District, Suriname (ssp ibis)
Pieter de Groot Boersma 1 year ago 38 sec 4 -
A bird piercing a caught Marine Toad with its bill, in order to soften it up for consumption. Locality Cultuurtuin, Paramaribo, Paramaribo District, Suriname (ssp ibis)
Pieter de Groot Boersma 5 February 2011 1 year ago 28 sec 4 -
Eastern race birds in non-breeding plumage foraging amongst cattle Locality Kanha National Park, Madhya Pradesh, India (ssp coromanda)
Greg Baker 15 March 2011 1 year ago 26 sec 4 -
A bird beside a donkey, in dry grass Locality Nianing, Thiès Region, Senegal (ssp ibis)
Juan Sanabria 7 January 2007 6 years ago 33 sec 4 -
An adult in a mixed breeding colony, showing the plumes and the bright red legs and bill, typical of the courtship period Locality Asni, Marrakech-Tensift-El Haouz Region, Morocco (ssp ibis)
Josep del Hoyo 17 May 2006 6 years ago 33 sec 4 -
Two birds in breeding plumage moving in a tree Locality Rabat Zoo, Rabat, Rabat-Salé-Zemmour-Zaer Region, Morocco (ssp ibis)
Josep del Hoyo 7 April 2007 5 years ago 36 sec 3.9 -
A breeding colony with several well-grown chicks, already outside of the nests Locality Asni, Marrakech-Tensift-El Haouz Region, Morocco (ssp ibis)
Josep del Hoyo 17 May 2006 6 years ago 50 sec 3.9 -
A bird preening on the shore, near hippos Locality Kazinga Channel, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Uganda (ssp ibis)
Josep del Hoyo 4 September 2006 6 years ago 26 sec 3.9 -
A bird walking and foraging on grass. Locality Kolkata, West Bengal, India (ssp coromanda)
Soumyadeep Chatterjee 97 16 October 2011 1 year ago 34 sec 3.8 -
A bird walking Locality Doñana National Park, Andalucia, Spain (ssp ibis)
Juan Sanabria 20 March 2010 2 years ago 34 sec 3.8 -
A bird in breeding plumage walking on a road Locality Fajardo, Puerto Rico (ssp ibis)
Juan Sanabria 31 July 2007 5 years ago 25 sec 3.8 -
A concentration with buffaloes, in front of the Nile River Locality Murchison Falls National Park, Uganda (ssp ibis)
Josep del Hoyo 29 August 2006 6 years ago 36 sec 3.8 -
An adult in courtship plumage, preening Locality Asni, Marrakech-Tensift-El Haouz Region, Morocco (ssp ibis)
Josep del Hoyo 17 May 2006 6 years ago 55 sec 3.8 -
A group of birds with sheep, preening and catching insects Locality Larache, Tangier-Tétouan Region, Morocco (ssp ibis)
Josep del Hoyo 7 April 2007 5 years ago 25 sec 3.8 -
A group of birds. Locality Rio Claro, São Paulo State, Brazil
Carlos Gussoni 1 February 2012 1 year ago 12 sec 3.8 -
Several birds searching food among buffalos. Locality Veal Krous, Dongphlet, Preah Vihear Province, Cambodia (ssp coromanda)
Josep del Hoyo 10 March 2011 1 year ago 27 sec 3.8 -
Three birds near a water buffalo Locality Cat Tien National Park, Cochinchina, Vietnam (ssp coromanda)
Josep del Hoyo 12 April 2008 4 years ago 37 sec 3.8 -
A bird, alert Locality Belgium (ssp ibis)
Leo Janssen 4 February 2000 7 years ago 27 sec 3.8 -
A group resting in a tree at dusk, some of them preening Locality Fatick Region, Senegal (ssp ibis)
Juan Sanabria 31 December 2007 4 years ago 19 sec 3.7 -
A group of birds in breeding and non-breeding plumages on a roof Locality Fujairah National Dairy Farm (Wam Farm), Dibba, Fujairah Emirate, United Arab Emirates (ssp ibis)
Eric Roualet 25 February 2008 5 years ago 25 sec 3.7 -
A group in a lake, moving to another spot Locality Negele Boran, Oromia Region, Ethiopia (ssp ibis)
Josep del Hoyo 11 December 2005 6 years ago 38 sec 3.7 -
Several birds landing in a tree Locality Petulu, Bali (Indonesia) (ssp coromanda)
Philip Griffin 14 September 2005 7 years ago 28 sec 3.7 -
A bird walking along the base of a wall, looking for lizards. Locality Jardín del Turia, Valencia City, Valencia, Valencian Community, Spain (ssp ibis)
Carlos Fabregat 2 January 2011 9 weeks ago 48 sec 3.7 -
A bird walking. Locality Ebro Delta, Tarragona Province, Catalonia, Spain (ssp ibis)
Jesús Laborda 5 December 2011 1 year ago 16 sec 3.7 -
A bird perched on a buffalo, preening. Locality Dasada, Surendranagar District, Gujarat, India (ssp coromandus)
Josep del Hoyo 18 February 2011 1 year ago 23 sec 3.7 -
A bird carrying a Marine Toad in it's beak, softening it up by piercing it with it's beak, and then it tries to swallow it. Locality Cultuurtuin, Paramaribo, Paramaribo District, Suriname (ssp ibis)
Pieter de Groot Boersma 5 February 2011 1 year ago 49 sec 3.7 -
A pair in breeding plumage on a reed bed Locality Ebro Delta, Tarragona Province, Catalonia, Spain (ssp ibis)
Pedro Rubio 1994 10 years ago 21 sec 3.7 -
A bird in breeding plumage, walking on the grass Locality Larache, Tangier-Tétouan Region, Morocco (ssp ibis)
Josep del Hoyo 7 April 2007 5 years ago 30 sec 3.6 -
Several birds foraging, with an Asian Elephant Locality Assam, India (ssp coromanda)
John Gregory 31 March 2007 5 years ago 23 sec 3.6 -
A bird walking on the ground Locality Belgium (ssp ibis)
Leo Janssen 4 February 2000 7 years ago 28 sec 3.6 -
A bird feeding around a bull Locality Najasa, Cuba (ssp ibis)
Josep del Hoyo 4 August 2004 8 years ago 21 sec 3.6 -
An adult in breeding plumage, trying to steal material from a White Stork nest Locality Asni, Marrakech-Tensift-El Haouz Region, Morocco (ssp ibis)
Josep del Hoyo 17 May 2006 6 years ago 45 sec 3.6 -
A bird feeding near a bull Locality Girardot, Cundinamarca Department, Colombia (ssp ibis)
Pere Sugranyes 2005 7 years ago 35 sec 3.5 -
A bird hunting lizards from a wall. Locality Jardín del Turia, Valencia City, Valencia, Valencian Community, Spain (ssp ibis)
Carlos Fabregat 2 January 2011 10 weeks ago 31 sec 3.5 -
Three birds birds together. One in breeding color. Locality Palm Beach, Aruba, Netherlands Antilles
Antonio Silveira 25 November 2012 24 weeks ago 26 sec 3.5 -
in the water Locality Entebbe Botanical Gardens, Entebbe, Uganda (ssp ibis)
Daniêl Jimenez 10 October 2010 2 years ago 29 sec 3.5 -
A group resting in windy conditions Locality East Khawr, Salalah, Dhofar Governorate, Oman (ssp ibis)
Eric Roualet 14 November 2010 2 years ago 9 sec 3.5 -
A bird looking for good sticks for a nest. Locality Camargue, Bouches-du-Rhône, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, France (ssp ibis)
Jeremiusz Trzaska 22 April 2009 3 years ago 22 sec 3.5 -
Birds foraging for food besides a horse Locality Aiguamolls de l'Empordà Natural Park, Girona Province, Catalonia, Spain (ssp ibis)
Alain Beaufils 14 May 2009 3 years ago 26 sec 3.5 -
A bird in breeding plumage perched in a tree, preening and then walking along a branch Locality Shortland Wetlands, Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia (ssp coromanda)
Nick Talbot 21 December 2005 3 years ago 17 sec 3.5 -
A group of birds foraging around a cow. Locality Thattekad Bird Sanctuary, Ernakulam District, Kerala, India (ssp coromanda)
Josep del Hoyo 30 November 2009 3 years ago 50 sec 3.5 -
Bird feeding near buffalo, also breeding plumage, calls in background Locality Rajasthan, India (ssp coromanda)
RAM GOPAL SONI 1 July 2005 3 years ago 16 sec 3.5 -
A big group on the ground Locality Nianing, Thiès Region, Senegal (ssp ibis)
Juan Sanabria 1 January 2009 3 years ago 29 sec 3.5 -
Cattle Egret hunting insects Locality Chan Chich, Gallon Jug, Orange Walk District, Belize (ssp ibis)
Wayne Hall 9 February 2009 4 years ago 1 min 3.5
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