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Cattle Egrets

Discussion in 'Bird' started by marlingardener, May 19, 2020.

  1. marlingardener

    marlingardener Happy

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    Cattle Egrets follow the Black Angus around, snagging the bugs the hooves stir up. After a hearty breakfast, the egrets come to our pond for a drink.
    Cattle Egrets b.jpg
    We had never realized Cattle Egrets have an orange crest, and reddish bills. They also have a light orange splash on their chest. We live and learn!
     
    marlingardener, May 19, 2020
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  2. Jerry Sullivan

    Jerry Sullivan Garden Experimenter Plants Contributor

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    Are cattle egrets the birds that ride on the backs of cattle?

    Jerry
     
    Jerry Sullivan, May 19, 2020
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  3. marlingardener

    marlingardener Happy

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    Yes Jerry, they are. They ride on the backs of cattle to get ticks to eat. This is not a diet I would recommend, but then I don't have feathers!
     
    marlingardener, May 19, 2020
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  4. eileen

    eileen Resident Taxonomist Staff Member Moderator Plants Contributor

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    I always thought that Cattle egrets were all white like the Little egrets we have here. Now I know what to look for when I go bird watching. :) Great photograph Jane. Thanks.
     
    eileen, May 19, 2020
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  5. Sjoerd

    Sjoerd Mighty Oak

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    Yeah Jane --live and learn. I can do that thanks to your posts.
     
    Sjoerd, May 19, 2020
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  6. Odif

    Odif Young Pine

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    Where I grew up, cattle egrets were 100% white. There are probably different types.
     
    Odif, May 19, 2020
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  7. mart

    mart Strong Ash

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    We have them here too ! for some reason they don`t like our horses as well as the cows across the road !
     
    mart, May 19, 2020
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