Western Cattle Egret

Copyright: monacoeye • Camargue, France, January 2009 • Do not copy without permission

Bird name: Western Cattle Egret
Latin: Bubulcus ibis
Other: Héron Garde-Boeuf (Fr) • Garcilla bueyera (Es) • Garça-vaqueira (Pt) • Airone guardabuoi (It)
Family: Ardeidae • Egrets
Range: North America, South America, Africa, Southern Europe to Central Asia

The IOC has split the Cattle Egret into Western and Eastern forms, the latter being found in Australasia. These were seen in the Camargue in southern France, so are Western Cattle Egrets.

The Western Cattle Egret has a short yellowy orange bill, hairy under bill, yellow iris, dark feet (generally), orange patches in breeding plumage. Smallest of the white egrets.

Below: Camargue, July 2009