General Description: Cattle Egrets (Bubulcus ibis) are small white herons of dry places rather than marshes. They are all white with a bit of orange on the crown. The bill is relatively short and stout, and yellow with a dark tip. The legs are dark, including the feet and toes. Sexes alike.

Taxonomy: Pelecaniformes, Ardeidae

Favored Habitat: Agricultural fields and open fields where they forage in grass or follow cattle and tractors catching insects stirred up by the movement.

Where to Find: Cattle Egrets are not normally seen around Las Vegas, as they prefer agricultural areas, but always keep an eye out -- they even show up in desert places like the parking lot at Corn Creek.

Comments: Cattle Egrets evolved in Africa where they followed herds of foraging ungulates. Apparently they found their way to South America early in the 20th century and have spread northward since then.