Western Cattle Egret

Cattle egrets are compact, short-legged herons whose white plumage becomes buff-colored on the head, neck and back during breeding. Unlike many herons, they spend much of their time in terrestrial habitats. They commonly walk beside cattle and other large grazing animals, capturing insects disturbed by their movement. Their adaptable habits have helped them occupy grasslands, farms, wetlands and even developed areas across an exceptionally broad geographic range. (Animal Diversity Web)

These highly social birds forage and roost in flocks and breed in colonies, often alongside other waterbirds. Both parents construct or maintain the bulky vegetation nest, incubate the eggs and care for the chicks. A normal clutch contains three or four pale-blue eggs, although larger and smaller clutches occur. Grasshoppers, crickets, flies, moths and spiders dominate their food, supplemented by frogs and other small animals. (Animal Diversity Web)