Cattle Egret

Afrikaans name: Vee-reier

Photo © Steven Herbert

Bubulcus ibis

The Cattle Egret found in South Africa is referred to as the Western Cattle Egret in many publications.

Cattle Egrets are found in tropical, sub-tropical and other warm temperate areas around the world.

The Cattle Egret is normally white but develops buff-coloured plumes during the breeding season.

Cattle Egrets can be found in a variety of habitats. We are used to seeing them in grassy areas accompanying herds of cattle, Buffalo or other mammals. They can also be found by water and farmlands.

They eat insects, frogs and other small animals. They accompany larger mammals to catch prey items that are disturbed by them. Cattle Egrets will also eat ticks off animals.

Sexes have similar plumage to each other although males are slightly larger and have longer plumes. Young Cattle Egrets have a black bill.

Cattle Egrets normally breed in colonies which in some area may include thousands of pairs. The breeding colonies are often situated near water.

Roberts Birds Names by Edition

Edition	Roberts nr	Scientific name
1st	61	Bubulcus ibis
2nd	61	Bubulcus ibis
3rd	61	Bubulcus ibis
4th	61	Bubulcus ibis
5th	71	Bubulcus ibis
6th	71	Bubulcus ibis
7th	442	Bubulcus ibis

Edition	Roberts nr	English name
1st	61	Cattle Egret
2nd	61	Cattle Egret
3rd	61	Cattle Egret
4th	61	Cattle Egret
5th	71	Cattle Egret
6th	71	Western Cattle Egret
7th	442	Western Cattle Egret

Edition	Roberts nr	Afrikaans name
1st	61	Bosluisvoel
2nd	61	Bosluisvoel
3rd	61	Bosluisvoel
4th	61	Bosluisvoel
5th	71	Bosluisvoel
6th	71	Veereier
7th	442	Veereier

References and further reading

World Birds - Author: Brian P. Martin - Published: 1987 - Page: 73

The Sandton Field Guide - Author: Sandton Nature Conservation Society - Published: 1982 - Page: 43

Wading Birds of the World - Revised edition - Author: Eric and Richard Soothill - Published: 1989 - Page: 38

Wild About Johannesburg - Author: Duncan Butchart - Published: 1995 - Page: 30

Wildlife of Southern Africa - Author: Martin Withers and David Hosking - Published: 2011 - Page: 32

The Herons Handbook - Author: James Hancock and James Kushlan - Published: 1984 - Page: 142

The Birds of South Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Dr. Austin Roberts - Published: 1949 - Page: 23

The Birds of South Africa - Author: Hazel Stokes - Published: 1979 - Page: 4

Southern African Wildlife - Author: Reader s Digest - Published: 1989 - Page: 105

Southern African Bird Names Explained - Author: Charles Clinning - Published: 1989 - Page: 22

Sasol Birds of Southern Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair et al. - Published: 1993 - Page: 58

Sasol Birds of Southern Africa - 4th Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair et al. - Published: 2011 - Page: 62

Roberts Birds of South Africa - 4th Edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Published: 1981 - Page: 36

Roberts Birds of Southern Africa - 6th Edition - Author: Gordon Lindsay Maclean - Published: 1993 - Page: 53

Roberts Birds of Southern Africa - 5th Edition - Author: Gordon Lindsay Maclean - Published: 1985 - Page: 53

Roberts Birds of South Africa - 3rd Edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Published: 1975 - Page: 31

Roberts Birds of South Africa - 2nd edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Published: 1957 - Page: 24

Roberts Bird Guide - Author: Hugh Chittenden - Published: 2007 - Page: 176

Meeting with Birds - Author: Tom Spence - Published: 1986 - Page: 27

Newman s Birds of Southern Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Ken Newman - Published: 1984 - Page: 72

Newman s Birds of Southern Africa - 7th Edition - Author: Ken Newman - Published: 2000 - Page: 72

Questions and Answers - Birds of Southern Africa - Author: Deirdre Richards - Published: 1990 - Page: 15

Ian Sinclair s Field Guide to the Birds of Southern Africa - 2nd Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair - Published: 1988 - Page: 54

KwaZulu-Natal - A celebration of biodiversity - Author: Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife - Published: 2002 - Page: 164

Geoff Lockwood s Garden Birds of Southern Africa - Author: Geoff Lockwood - Published: 0 - Page: 158

Field Guide to the Cradle of Humankind - Author: B. Hilton-Barber & Prof. L. R. Berger - Published: 2004 - Page: 177

Field Guide to Fynbos Fauna - Author: Cliff & Suretha Dorse - Published: 2023 - Page: 136

Field Guide to the Birds of Kruger National Park - Author: Ian Sinclair and Ian Whyte - Published: 1991 - Page: 28

Common Birds of the North Coast - Author: Bing Comrie - Published: 2005 - Page: 7

Everyone s Guide to South African Birds - Author: John Sinclair and John Mendelsohn - Published: 1987 - Page: 26

Collins Illustrated Checklist - Birds of Southern Africa - 1st edition - Author: Ber van Perlo - Published: 1999 - Page: 9

Birds of the Transvaal - Author: Tarboton, Kemp and Kemp - Published: 1987 - Page: 17

Birds of the Transkei - Author: C.D. Quickelberge - Published: 1989 - Page: 30

Birds of the South Western Cape - Author: Joy Frandsen - Published: 0 - Page: 24

Birds of the Natal Drakensberg Park - Author: Robin Little and William Bainbridge - Published: 1992 - Page: 4

Birds of Southern Africa - Kruger National Park - Author: Kenneth Newman - Published: 1985 - Page: 18

Birds of the Kruger and other National Parks - Volume 1 - Author: National Parks Board - Published: 1974 - Page: 4

Birds of Africa south of the Sahara - Author: Ian Sinclair and Peter Ryan - Published: 2003 - Page: 48

Bird Atlas of Natal - Author: Digby Cyrus and Nigel Robson - Published: 1980 - Page: 41

Animals of the Kruger National Park - Author: G. de Graaff - Published: 1987 - Page: 54

A First Guide to South African Birds - 7th Edition - Author: Leonard Gill - Published: 1975 - Page: 173

A First Guide to South African Birds - 6th Edition - Author: Leonard Gill - Published: 1959 - Page: 173

A Field Guide to the Birds of Southern Africa - 2nd Edition - Author: O.P.M. Prozesky - Published: 1983 - Page: 38

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List of South African Birds