Cattle egret

Description:

This is an all-white, small but stocky, heron with a pale eye and bill. Sexes are similar, except that the male is slightly larger. Prior to and during the breeding period, adults develop striking orange-buff plumes on the back, breast and crown - the extent of this coloring depends on a subspecies. Moreover, bill, legs and irises become bright red for a brief period prior to pairing (not shown here).

Habitat:

Originally native to Palearctic or the Old World, today this is a cosmopolitan bird, found in wetlands, including a temporary inundated fields (e.g. paddy fields). I always found it close to human habitations or human activities - most often accompanying large farm animals, cattle. Here observed in the midst of urban setting, on a lawn of the local supermarket in central Kinshasa... The lawn was also used as picnic ground, and contained loads of waste food...