South Dakota Birds and BirdingDevoted to birds, birding, and photography |
Custom Search
of South Dakota Birds
|
South Dakota Birds and BirdingDevoted to birds, birding, and photography |
Custom Search
of South Dakota Birds
|
| Length: 20 inches | Wingspan: 36 inches | Seasonality: Summer |
| ID Keys: Stocky build, smaller than other white egrets, yellow bill is shorter than other egrets. | ||
Cattle Egrets are originally native to Africa and the Mediterranean
coasts of western Europe. They began to colonize parts of South America in
the 1970's, and were first seen in the United States when breeding populations
were established in Florida in the early 1940's. Cattle Egrets have since
expanding their range to cover much of the southern U.S., and scattered
locations throughout much of the northern U.S. Cattle Egrets are unlike
other herons and egrets in that they generally feed in upland areas. They
often associating with cattle or other livestock, following the animals (or
tractors or other farm equipment) and feeding on any insects that are
disturbed. Cattle Egrets are often found in mixed breeding colonies with
other egrets and herons.
2) Cornell University's "All About Birds - Cattle Egret"
 |
| South Dakota Status: Common summer breeding resident in the northeastern part of the state, uncommon elsewhere in the east, rarer in the west. |
| Commercial Use | Fine Art Print | Personal Usage |
