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Thursday 25 February 2016

25-2-2016 ALBUFERA, VALENCIA - WESTERN CATTLE EGRET (MALE) (Bubulcus ibis)


Population size
4-9.8 Mlnlnn
Life Span
23 years
Top speed
51
km/hmph
km/h mph 
Weight
270-512
goz
g oz 
Length
46-56
cminch
cm inch 
Wingspan
88-96
cminch


The Cattle egret (Bubulcus ibis) is a cosmopolitan species of heron named for its association with cattle. It is the only member of the monotypic genus Bubulcus, although some authorities regard its two subspecies as full species, the Western cattle egret and the Eastern cattle egret. Despite the similarities in plumage to the egrets of the genus Egretta, it is more closely related to the herons of Ardea.

The Cattle egret is a stocky bird. It has a relatively short, thick neck, a sturdy bill, and a hunched posture. The nonbreeding adult has mainly white plumage, a yellow bill, and greyish-yellow legs. During the breeding season, adults of the nominate western subspecies develop orange-buff plumes on the back, breast, and crown, and the bill, legs, and irises become bright red for a brief period prior to pairing. The sexes are similar, but the male is marginally larger and has slightly longer breeding plumes than the female; juvenile birds lack coloured plumes and have a black bill.

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