Page 80 - Complete Birds of Britain and Europe (DK - RSPB)

BITTERNS AND HERONS
Order Ciconiiformes Family Ardeidae Species Bubulcus ibis
Cattle Egret rich buff
crown

yellow
rich buff looks all-white bill, reddish
on back in flight at long in spring
range
SUMMER
white body
and wings
SUMMER rich buff
dark feet
on breast
yellow in spring
IN FLIGHT bill
FLIGHT: quick, direct, often in flocks; wingbeats
quite fast and deep.
ost herons and egrets
Mfeed on fish, but Cattle all-white
Egrets have a specialist body
lifestyle, following large
animals and picking up
insects disturbed by their SUMMER
hooves.They also feed
on freshly ploughed earth, dull yellowish to
brown legs
finding small prey turned up in WINTER
the furrows, and forage on refuse
tips as well.Towards evening, large
flocks fly in distinctive, shapeless
flurries of white, gathering to roost
in trees (sometimes close to buildings),
often in thousands.
VOICE Occasional short, croaking or
creaking notes.
NESTING Shallow nest of sticks and
reeds in tree; 4 or 5 eggs; 1 brood;
April–June. CATTLE FOLLOWER SPARKLING WHITE
FEEDING Catches insects disturbed by Cattle Egrets typically follow cattle in Europe; Flocks in flight present a flickering, tight-
cattle, sheep, and goats; also eats frogs, in Africa, they gather around great herds of packed effect, often looking much whiter
reptiles, and mice. antelopes, buffaloes, and elephants. than they may appear on the ground.
SIMILAR SPECIES OCCURRENCE
Confined largely to S Spain and
SQUACCO HERON LITTLE EGRET Portugal and extreme S France; rare
see p.79 see p.80
vagrant farther north. Resident in
coastal regions or centred on lakes
slim
black legs dark with thickets in which it roosts.
with yellow bill Feeds in fields and at refuse tips,
feet
often associated with livestock.
smaller
and Seen in the UK
darker JF M A M J JA S ON D
Length 45–50cm (18–20in) Wingspan 82–95cm (32–37in) Weight 300–400g (11–14oz)
Social Feeds and roosts in flocks Lifespan Up to 10 years Status Secure
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