Eastern Cattle Egret

The eastern cattle egret (Bubulcus coromandus) is a medium-sized heron native to South Asia, Southeast Asia, and Australasia. It reaches lengths of 46-56 cm (18-22 in) and a wingspan of 88-96 cm (35-38 in). It has a yellow bill, and the plumage is all white outside of breeding season. In breeding season head, neck, and breast turn orange to buff in coloration, as well as a patch of the same color on its back. The bill, eyes, and legs also turn bright red for a brief period before mating. The species is very similar to the western cattle egret (Bubulcus ibis) found in Africa, Europe, the Middle East, and the Americas, and the two are often considered subspecies of the same species. The most obvious difference between the two species is the extent of the orange-buff coloration during breeding season, which are only present as patches on the crown, neck, breast and backside on the western species. The bill of the eastern cattle egret is also longer on average.

The eastern cattle egret is closely associated to large grazing herbivores, as they feed on insects and other small animals that are disturbed by the larger animals. Since grazing animals are often found in open habitats, such as grasslands and savannas, that is also were you will find cattle egrets. Associated wild species can be elephants, buffaloes, and various deer and antelopes, but cattle egrets are most often observed around domesticated cattle. It is therefore found wherever there is cattle within its distribution. As is common with other herons, the species do wade in shallow water and may look for food there, but it doesn’t need to be in close proximity to water as long as there are large herbivores nearby.

Eastern cattle egret is probably the most social heron species, alongside the western cattle egret. They live and forage in flocks and breed in colonies. They often form colonies where other species of herons are established, at so called heronries. Breeding season changes with region, but generally coincides with early monsoon, spring, and summer months. Breeding pairs are only formed when the birds arrive at the breeding colony. Breeding colonies are often found in close proximity to water, but there are exceptions to this. The nests of pairs are often close to each other, and they can be built in trees, bushes, or in reeds. The nest is made by both male and female and is made up of sticks. They sometimes reuse nests from previous years. Somewhere between 1-9 eggs are laid (usually 3-4) and incubated for 21-26 days by both parents. Females may also lay some eggs in the nests of other cattle egrets. Chicks fledge at around 30 days old and are fully independent when around 45 days old.

The eastern cattle egret is a very successful species of heron. Because of its association with cattle, it is doing well close to human habitation and has increased its range over the last 100 years. It first settled in Australia in the 1940s and New Zealand in the 1960s. It is listed as least concern on the IUCN Red List, where it is lumped together with the western cattle egret as one singular species.