#bubulcus

[herpsandbirds]

Western Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis), in breeding colors, family Ardeidae, order Pelicaniformes, Alvin, TX, USA

photograph by David Paulissen

[birdblues]

Cattle Egret

[thebeastsofindia]

Eastern Cattle Egret (Ardea coromanda), in breeding plumage, family Ardeidae, order Pelecaniformes, Maharashtra, India

Historically classified as Bubulcus ibis coromandus and as Bubulcus coromandus

Photo by Ranjeet Rane

[snototter]

A cattle egret (Bubulcus ibis) in Ankarafantsika National Park, Madagascar

by Frank Vassen

[witchstone]

Western Cattle Egret  Bubulcus ibis ssp. ibis West Coast National Park, Western Cape, South Africa -33.109487, 17.987095 by mario_mairal

[great-and-small]

Wait for it... there it is- the WIGGLE! This wiggly bird is the cattle egret (Bubulcus ibis), and this video demonstrates a very cool behavior that’s usually called “neck-swaying”. This is a somewhat uncommon hunting behavior where the bird quickly weaves its head and neck side to side as it approaches a prey item. We’re not entirely sure what the purpose of this hunting method is, but it is suspected to help the bird more accurately assess the distance of their prey, though others believe it is used to distract or disorient prey before the bird strikes. In any case, several studies in foraging behavior of this species suggest that strikes preceded by head-swaying are actually less successful than normal strikes. Although this video ends too soon (my camera was not cooperating), I can say that this particular wiggle did end successfully, as this cattle egret snatched up a very big bug.

[animalids]

Cattle egret (Bubulcus ibis)

Photo by Marlin Harms

[dendroica]

A cattle egret, known as Bubulcus ibis, is seen at Lake Van basin, Turkey, which hosts 215 bird species

Photograph: Ali Ihsan Ozturk/Anadolu/Getty Images

(via The week in wildlife – in pictures | Environment | The Guardian)