
Cattle Egret
characterized by brown summer plumage
Scientific name | Bubulcus ibis |
English name | Cattle Egret |
Japanese name | 猩々鷺 |
Classification | Aves |
Classification details | Pelecaniformes Ardeidae |
Full length | about 50cm |
Distribution | Comes to Honshu in summer. Overwinter in Kyushu, etc. |
Characteristics
A small heron with a distinctive brown head, chest and back. The Japanese name ``Amasagi'' comes from the fact that the color of the summer plumage looks amber. In winter, the brown part becomes almost white. The rest of the body is white and the legs are black. Males and females have the same color.
When the whole body is white, it looks like a little egret or a rabbit, but the neck is slightly shorter and the balance with the body is different.
Calls
It calls with a muddy "gwa" sound similar to that of other herons.
Ecology
They fly to rice paddies and fields in groups and eat insects, fish, amphibians and other animal species. They gather near cultivators and cattle, and aim for the food that jumps out when they are surprised by them. Sometimes it jumps on the back of a cow. In summer, they form colonies and breed.
Habitat
I took a picture of him aiming for food next to a cow on a farm. I got close to the cow's face, but the cow didn't seem to care at all. It's interesting to see the difference in body size.
Cattle egrets around a harvesting machine waited in line for the crop to be cut, then swarmed as the machine passed.
Pictures
Introducing a picture of Cattle Egret.

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