If it's smaller with a dark bill and yellow feet, it's a Snowy Egret. The Great Egrets is easily confused with the white morph of the Great Blue Heron - also commonly referred to as the "Great White Heron" - which occurs only in southern Florida. This stocky white heron has yellow plumes on its head and neck during breeding season. There are 3 egret species that regularly visit Colorado: the Cattle Egret, the Great Egret, and the Snowy Egret. Interesting facts: The cattle egret was introduced to South America in 1880 from Africa. This stocky white heron has yellow plumes on its head and neck during breeding season. If it's smaller with a yellow bill or orange feathers, it's a Cattle Egret… NOTE: Identification tips on this page are primarily for mature birds in breeding plumage (for the three egret species), and for the juvenile Little Blue Heron. Great white egret is more than 90 centimetres long with a wingspan that extends two metres, and their body weight could go as high as one kilogram, more often. Cattle Egrets may also display an orange crown, as well as orange feathers on their backs. The short, thick-necked Cattle Egret spends most of its time in fields rather than streams. BTO bird identification videos are supported by Natureguides. Cattle Egret Sarapiqui River, Heredia, Costa Rica Member of the Herons/Egrets/Bitterns Family §A Stampede of Cattle Egrets§ ~true bird fact~ One of those rare, resourceful birds who have made humanity into an ally rather than a threat, Cattle Egret loves agriculture. They often spend time close to livestock and grab insects and worms which their hooves disturb. The Little Egret (Egretta garzetta), the Intermediate Egret (Ardea intermedia or Mesophoyx intermedia), and the Great Egret (Ardea alba melanorhynchos or Casmerodius albus melanorhynchos) have all white plumage (feathers). They were first seen in Florida in 1942 and found nesting in 1950’s. One of the most majestic and graceful of birds. It forages at the feet of grazing cattle, head bobbing with each step, or rides on their backs to pick at ticks. Occasionally Cattle Egrets turn up, and some even stay to breed. The third of the white egrets gets its name from its propensity to flock in pastures, where it feeds on insects stirred up by grazing cattle. The eastern cattle egret (Bubulcus coromandus) is a species of heron (family Ardeidae) found in the tropics, subtropics and warm temperate zones. The Great Blue Heron can be identified by its pale yellow legs and feet - compared to the blackish legs of the Great Egret. The short, thick-necked Cattle Egret spends most of its time in fields rather than streams. Egrets. However, the Reddish Egret is not found in South Dakota, and the white morph of the Great Blue Heron is generally restricted to Florida. Slightly smaller and more svelte than a Great Blue Heron, these are still large birds with impressive wingspans. So of the three common white egrets, if it's a large egret, it's a Great Egret. How to distinguish from a snowy egret: Smaller than snowy egret, During breeding, lores are purple, Bill, legs, and feet are yellow, and Short, thick, pointed bill. Snowy egrets forage in mostly shallow water, eating crustaceans, mollusks, fish and small vertebrates. The Little Egret has a black beak. How to distinguish from a cattle egret: Larger than a cattle egret, During breeding, … They will remain motionless and wait for prey or shuffle feet to stir up prey. The elegant Great Egret is a dazzling sight in many a North American wetland. Fashionistas of the past agreed: thousands of egrets were slaughtered for their long, silky plumes, which used to adorn ladies' hats. Note there are also white morphs of the Reddish Egret and the Great Blue Heron. Similar looking birds to Cattle Egret: Great Egret Adult, Snowy Egret Adult, Little Blue Heron Juvenile Similar Species to Cattle Egret, All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology Photos comparing this bird species with similar or confusing species, including captions that point out specific differences to help confirm identification. All 3 are… These birds, along with the great egret, were nearly hunted to extinction for their feathers, but numbers have rebounded quite well in the US. A white heron in the UK is likely to be a Little or Great White Egret. Cattle egrets have yellow or greyish legs and a yellow beak, compared to the black legs (with yellow feet) and black beak of the little egret. Also, the Great Blue Heron has a heavier bill. Ah, the egret. Natureguides kindly provide species video clips … Slightly smaller but much rarer than the little egret, cattle egrets are visiting the UK in increasing numbers. How can you pick one of these wanderers out? Most taxonomic authorities lump this species and the western cattle egret together as subspecies of the cattle egret, but some (including the International Ornithologists' Union) separate them Egret is a large bird belongs to the Family: Ardeidae of Order: Ciconiformis. They hunt in classic heron fashion, standing immobile or wading through wetlands to capture fish with a deadly jab of their yellow bill.