Western Cattle-Egret Similar Species Comparison
Main SpeciesWestern Cattle-Egret
Breeding adult
Compact egret that often perches with its thick neck drawn in. Breeding adults have golden feathers on the head, breast, and back. Note short yellow bill and yellow legs.
© Brandon Nidiffer / Macaulay LibraryTexas, May 14, 2020Breeding adult
Breeding adult has bright red legs and bill during a short period of peak breeding.
© Liam Wolff / Macaulay LibraryGeorgia, April 04, 2018Nonbreeding adult
Smaller and more compact egret with a short yellow bill. Nonbreeding bird is entirely white with black legs.
© Samuel Paul Galick / Macaulay LibraryNew Jersey, November 01, 2012Juvenile
Juvenile is entirely white with black legs and a black bill.
© Paul Fenwick / Macaulay LibraryTel-Aviv, June 28, 2016Breeding adult
Usually flies with its neck tucked in like other herons.
© Andrew Simon / Macaulay LibraryOhio, September 05, 2020Habitat
Forages in groups in upland areas such as pastures and fields, generally in drier habitats than other species of white herons. Frequently associates with grazing animals.
© Joshua Covill / Macaulay LibraryUtah, April 19, 2017Habitat
Forages alongside grazing animals eating insects attracted to them as well as insects and small animals that flush from under their feet.
© Rick Kittinger / Macaulay LibraryAlabama, August 11, 2017Similar SpeciesGreat Egret
Adult
Great Egrets are much larger than Western Cattle-Egrets with a much longer and thinner neck. In flight, Great Egrets have much slower and deeper wingbeats than Western Cattle-Egrets.
© Alex Lamoreaux / Macaulay LibraryPennsylvania, August 17, 2016Similar SpeciesSnowy Egret
Adult
Snowy Egrets are taller and more slender than Western Cattle-Egrets. They have a black bill, whereas adult Western Cattle-Egrets have a yellow bill. Snowy Egrets are usually found in wetter habitats than Western Cattle-Egrets.
© John Sutton / Macaulay LibraryFlorida, March 20, 2016Similar SpeciesLittle Blue Heron
Juvenile
Juvenile Little Blue Herons are mostly white, but they are more slender than Western Cattle-Egrets, with greener legs and more grayish at the base of the bill.
© Zak Pohlen / Macaulay LibraryIdaho, October 26, 2015Rotate Your Device to Better Compare
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