The name Cattle Egret by itself probably does not conjure up the impression that it's a beautiful bird. But in reality, they are actually quite stunning. They have yellow bills like the Great Egret, but they are much smaller, like the Snowy Egret but with a thicker neck. They may also have orange-buff plumages on their crown and back during mating season. The easiest way to distinguish this bird from the Great and Snowy Egrets: they are small, like a Snowy with a yellow bill like a Great. Cattle Egrets are also more frequently found away from water than other egrets, since they follow cattle and feed off small animals that the cattle stir up--hence the name.
Cattle Egret
Cattle Egret, (note the neck is thicker than Snowy)
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