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Cattle EgretSize: 48-53 cm; wing span 88-96 cm Weight: 270-510 g |
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Similar species |
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SUBSECTIONS:
Classification
Distribution
Sightings
Photos
Breeding
Nest
Eggs
Behaviour
Food
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Taxonomy, classification |
See Cattle Egret
at Wikipedia 
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Range, habitat, finding this species |
(for details refer to a field guide) |
Click here to display information on habitat,
range and finding this species
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Sightings |
Cattle Egrets were first spotted by us in February 2008, at Narrabri Lake, Narrabri, NSW, after substantial rainfalls.
Click here to display more sighting
information
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Photos |
Race "coromanda"
Frontal view of a Cattle Egret in breeding plumage
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, October 2010]
Frontal view of a bird spreading its wings; in the background a pair
of nesting Australian
White Ibises
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, November 2011]
Lateral view of a Cattle Egret in breeding plumage
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, November 2011]
Dorsal view of a Cattle Egret
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, October 2010]
Cattle Egret doing what its name says it's got to do...
[Near Narrabri, NSW, January 2011]
Cattle Egret "hitching a ride"
[Eulah Creek, NSW, January 2013]
Cattle Egret on a meadow; photo courtesy of L. Tonnochy
[Near Townsville, QLD, January 2011]
Cattle Egret moulting into its breeding plumage
[Near Narrabri, NSW, September 2011]
Cattle Egret (right) and Intermediate Egrets (left) perched
on reeds
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, February 2008]
Cattle Egret in breeding plumage in flight, seen from underneath
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, December 2010]
Lateral view of a Cattle Egret in breeding plumage in flight
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, November 2011]
Cattle Egret in breeding plumage in flight, slightly different perspective
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, December 2010]
Cattle Egret in flight carrying nesting material
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, October 2010]
Close-up view of a Cattle Egret in non-breeding plumage in flight
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, March 2012]
Cattle Egret in non-breeding plumage in flight seen from underneath
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, July 2012]
This photo allows a comparison of the relative sizes of a Cattle Egret
(centre), a Great Egret
(left) and an Intermediate
Egret (right); all of them are searching for nesting material under
a tree after a violent storm
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, December 2010]
Two (probably young) Cattle Egrets
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, March 2012]
Dorsal view of a fledgling Cattle Egret
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, February 2013]
This fledgling Cattle Egret still had problems taking off from the ground
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, February 2013]
Close-up near-lateral view of a Cattle Egret in captivity in the
process of moulting (photo courtesy of C. Hayne)
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Breeding information |
| Breeding season: Sep - Oct | Eggs: 3 - 6 | Incubation period: 25 days | Fledging age: 42 days |
The breeding season depends significantly on geographical latitude. In the tropical north Cattle Egrets breed Mar - May. They breed in colonies, together with other aquatic birds.
These Cattle Egrets are just moulting back into their breeding plumage
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, September 2011]
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Nest |
"bungobittah", "malunna" = Nest [Aboriginal] |
| Type: Basket | Material: Sticks, lined with leaves | Height above ground: 3 - 15 m |
Cattle Egrets nest in trees along the banks of freshwater courses, lakes or dams.
Seen nesting, together with other aquatic birds, along the shores of Narrabri Lake during the breeding season of 2008 and subsequent years.
Frontal view of a Cattle Egret on its nest
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, November 2011]
Example of colonial nesting
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, November 2011]
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Eggs |
"boyanga", "booyanga", "derinya", "dirandil", "koomura", "nooluk" "pateena" = Egg; "dirundirri" = eggs [Aboriginal]; "gawu" = eggs [gamilaraay] |
| Size: 45 x 34 mm | Colour: Light blue | Shape: Tapered oval |
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Behaviour |
| Social behaviour: Communal | Mobility: Migratory | Elementary unit: Flock |
As their name already suggests, Cattle Egrets follow cattle in order to pick off animals that are disturbed in tall grass.
Cattle Egrets feeding together
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, November 2011]
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Food, Diet |
All egrets and herons prey on aquatic creatures in fresh water or estuaries (fish, frogs, snakes or crustaceans). Cattle Egrets specialise in small prey, including large insects, that is disturbed by large mammals, but will hunt without "aid" as well.
