Cattle Egret

The cattle’s ally

It is a Mediterranean species that is spreading throughout the south
of France. It gets its name from the fact that it often accompanies cattle in the fields and feeds on insects that parasitize ruminants. It also feeds on the insects that the cattle disturb as they walk.

IUCN status

The International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List of Threatened Species (IUCN)

NA

No evaluated

DD

Data deficient

LC

Least Concern

NT

Near threatened

VU

Vulnerable

EN

Endangered

CR

Critically endangered

EW

Extinct in the wild

EX

Extinct

Description

Bubulcus ibis

Family

Ardeidae

Weight

300 to 400g

Height

48 to 53cm

Habitat

Open areas near water

Status

Least Concern

Lifespan

15 years

Food

It feeds on insects (especially grasshoppers), reptiles, and other small animals.