Birds Around Me

Cattle Egret (गाय बगुला, सुर्खिया बगुला) is slightly smaller than the little egret. They often spend time close to livestock and grab insects and worms which their hooves disturb. Cattle egrets have yellow or greyish legs and a yellow beak, compared to the black legs (with yellow feet) and black beak of the Little Egret करछिया बगुला (Egretta garzetta) . In the breeding plumage the orange or golden head, neck and back makes it identity unmistakable. Unlike other Egrets & Herons it is less dependent on water bodies or marshes. Thye are often seen in fields and grazing grounds around cattles. Apart from insects, grasshoppers and frogs, they also pick off blood-sucking flies and other parasites from the backs, bellies and ears of the cattle.   Cattle Egret mostly relate to its habit of following cattle and other large animals, and it is known variously as cow crane, cow bird or cow heron, or even elephant bird. The tribals in Asia & Africa consider the presence of lar...