MY TRAVEL PLANACCOMMODATIONtrips & activitiesevents

Bird of the Month: Cattle Egret

My Magazine 2023/05
2 min
Cattle egrets (Bubulcus ibis) are a species of bird in the heron family, Ardeidae. They are small, white birds with a yellow bill, legs, and feet. During breeding season, they develop orange-brown plumes on their head, neck, and back. Cattle egrets are native to Africa, but have spread to many parts of the world, including the Americas, Asia, and Australia.

Cattle egrets are typically found in grasslands, savannas, and wetlands. They feed on a variety of insects, including grasshoppers, crickets, and flies, as well as small mammals like rodents. They have adapted to forage in the company of grazing cattle, as the cattle stir up insects that the bird can then eat.

During the breeding season, cattle egrets build their nests in trees or shrubs, usually in colonies with other cattle egrets or other bird species. The female lays between two to five eggs, which hatch after about three weeks. The chicks are born naked and helpless, but grow rapidly and are able to fly after about a month.

Cattle egrets are considered a beneficial species because they can help control insect populations in agricultural areas. However, they can also cause problems in some regions, such as nesting near airports or power lines, which can pose a hazard to aviation or cause power outages.

Did you enjoy this article? Share it with friends >>>

Learn Wollof: Days of the Week
Trip of the Month: A Day Trip to Tanji

- OTHER ARTICLES -

Subscribe To Our Magazine
No spam, notifications only about new issues.
Subscription Form za Mailerlite - landing

All articles

Subscribe To Our Magazine
No spam, notifications only about new issues.
Subscription Form za Mailerlite - landing

Other articles

Where To See Animals In The Gambia
A journey to Africa must include observing animal life. Although there are no “Big 5” in The Gambia, there are over 550 bird species and many othe...
Made in the Gambia: Local Salt Production
Nowadays, most of the salt produced in The Gambia comes from the sea, mines and wells. But in the past, the most significant quantities of salt were p...
Foreword: May is here!
...
Kofung Private Forest – the Home of Indigenous Flora and Fauna
The Gambia once used to be a land of diverse flora and fauna. Vast savannas offered a home to herds of antelopes, amongst which elephants were strolli...
JOBS
©MyGambia 2023
Developed by Marklab
error: Alert: Our content is protected!

My Gambia Team

Typically replies within 30 minutes

We will be back soon.

Hey there 👋
We are here to help. What can I do for you?
Start Chat with us
chat