: They trail behind cattle, horses, and tractors to catch insects stirred up by movement.
: Some ranchers prefer egrets over pesticides for natural fly control. bubulcus ibis
: Around 1877, they crossed the Atlantic Ocean from Africa to South America. : They trail behind cattle, horses, and tractors
Their success comes from a unique "commensal" relationship with larger animals. : They trail behind cattle
: By the 1940s, they reached Florida and spread across North America.
The cattle egret ( Bubulcus ibis ) is one of the most successful avian explorers in history. Unlike most species that spread due to human transport, these birds conquered the globe largely on their own wings. The Great Migration