Cattle Egret

Description:

Compared with other herons, Cattle Egrets are noticeably small and compact. They have relatively short legs and a short thick neck. The straight, daggerlike bill is shorter and thicker than other herons. They have medium-length, broad, rounded wings. The Cattle Egret is white overall. Its eyes are yellow and it has a swollen looking throat. It also has dark green or yellow-green legs which are shorter than the Snowy Egret. During breeding season, it has yellow-orange feathers on its breast and back, as well as on its crest. In high breeding, the legs turn red and the head crest is erected along the back to display for the mate. Males and females look similar. Immature birds have a black beak and look like a non-breeding adults.

Habitat:

Shoreline of Lewisville Lake.