Western Cattle Egret

Non-breeding adults and juveniles are entirely white with a yellow bill and yellowish-grey legs. During the breeding season, adults develop striking golden-buff or orange plumes on the head, breast, and back, and their bills, legs, and irises can temporarily brighten to a reddish-orange hue.

Short yellow bill, stocky white body, shorter neck than most other egrets, and dark legs (which can appear greenish-yellow). Breeding adults show buff-orange patches on the head, chest, and back.

Length: 45-56 cm (18-22 in), Wingspan: 88-96 cm (35-38 in), Weight: 270-512 g (9.5-18 oz)

Generally quiet away from the breeding colony. At colonies, they produce a variety of hoarse, croaking, or raspy calls, including a low-pitched 'rick-rack' sound.

Primarily feeds on insects (especially grasshoppers, crickets, flies, and beetles), spiders, frogs, and lizards. Unlike most other herons, its diet is less dependent on aquatic prey and heavily tied to terrestrial invertebrates.

Prefers open country, pastures, agricultural fields, wetlands, and grasslands, frequently foraging in close proximity to large grazing mammals.

Partial migrant. Populations in northern ranges migrate south for the winter, while tropical and subtropical populations are largely resident. They are also known for strong dispersive tendencies, often flying hundreds of miles off course.

Colonial nesters, often breeding alongside other waterbirds like ibises, cormorants, and other herons in trees, bushes, or reed beds. Builds a flimsy platform of sticks. Clutch size typically ranges from 2 to 5 pale blue-white eggs.

Little Egret and Snowy Egret, both of which are slighter, have entirely black legs and feet (and yellow feet in Snowy), longer slender necks, and black bills, and typically forage in water rather than dry fields.

Acts as a biological control agent by consuming large quantities of agricultural pests, ticks, and flies associated with livestock, helping to reduce parasite loads on domestic and wild animals.

Least Concern, with a stable or increasing global population due to its adaptability and association with agricultural development.

Look in pastures, agricultural fields, and grasslands, particularly near grazing cattle, horses, or tractors turning up soil. They are generally tolerant of human presence.

The cattle egret is a phenomenal natural colonizer; it crossed the Atlantic Ocean unassisted from Africa to South America in the late 19th century and has since colonized almost the entire Western Hemisphere.