Today we continue with our 2017 Birdorable Bonanza by adding a new wading bird: the Reddish Egret!

The Reddish Egret is a medium-sized species of heron found along coastal habitats in Central America and the southeast of the United States. They are also found on many islands of the Caribbean.

Reddish Egrets are known for their active hunting antics, often found running around, spinning, and jumping in shallow salt water as they hunt little fish to eat.

The Reddish Egret has two very different color morphs. Darker birds have grey bodies with a reddish head and neck. The light morph has a mostly white plumage.

Tomorrow we'll add a new species to our Birdorable rail family. Once thought to be extinct, this species has moved from living in wetlands to survive in alpine grasslands. Do you know this New Zealand endemic?

If you think our Birdorable birds are cute as adults, what about when they are babies? Below are some baby photos (shared via Flickr Creative Commons) of the Great Egret. Great Egrets nest in a large colony group, which is known as a rookery or a heronry. In North America, the average clutch size (number of eggs laid) is about three. Incubation takes 23-27 days. Young chicks have a sort of prehistoric look to them, but they get progressively cuter as they age:

Great Egret (Ardea alba) nest with three chicks at the in the Morro Bay Heron Rookery 21 May 2009 by mikebaird

Great Egret Chick by Andrea Westmoreland

(4 of 9) Great Egret Chicks in Nest w/ Parent by mikebaird

great egret chick pair woody by JKD Atlanta

2 of 3 Great Egret Nest with Adult and Two Chicks, Heron Rookery, Morro Bay, CA 27 May 2010 by mikebaird

5 of 6 Great Egret (Ardea alba) nest with three chicks at the Morro Bay Heron Rookery by mikebaird

2 of 6 Great Egret (Ardea alba) nest with three chicks at the Morro Bay Heron Rookery by mikebaird

great egret chicks woody nest by JKD Atlanta

Pretty cute, right? Be sure to check out our Birdorable Great Egret t-shirts and gifts!

Today's bird, and the 8th species in the Birdorable Bonanza, is the Little Egret!

Little Egrets by goingslo

Little Egrets live across a wide area of distribution. They can be found throughout Europe, Africa, and much of Asia. They are also found in Australia and New Zealand. Little Egrets are very similar to a North American species, the Snowy Egret. Both species develop long fluffy plumes during breeding season. Like many species of heron, Little Egrets are colonial nesters. They will join other wading birds in a heronry, using platform-like nests made of sticks and twigs.

Tomorrow bird is a bird of prey that can be found across the northern hemisphere. It is the largest bird in the Accipiter family. Can you guess what it is?

1. Rapid Global Expansion 🌍

The Cattle Egret has undergone one of the fastest natural expansions of any bird species. Native to Africa and Asia, it began spreading across the globe in the 19th century, reaching the Americas by 1877 and Australia in the 1940s. Its ability to thrive in diverse climates is a key factor in its successful expansion. [source]

2. Arrival in the U.S. 🇺🇸

After first being recorded in the U.S. in 1941, the Cattle Egret has since been found from Alaska to Newfoundland and has bred in almost all fifty states, making it one of the most widespread bird species in North America. [source]

3. Opportunistic Feeders 🐄

Known for their resourceful feeding habits, Cattle Egrets often follow large animals like cattle or tractors to catch insects disturbed by their movement. This strategy is energy-efficient, allowing them to gather significantly more food with less effort when feeding with livestock.

4. Fire Fleeing Insects 🔥

Cattle Egrets are known to take advantage of natural disturbances. They have been observed flying in from afar to catch insects fleeing from wildfires, showcasing their sharp instinct for finding food even in extreme conditions. [source]

5. Bird Predation 🐦

In rare cases, Cattle Egrets will add small birds to their diet. At Fort Jefferson in the Dry Tortugas, Florida, they’ve been seen catching warblers when insect prey is scarce, demonstrating their dietary flexibility. [source]

6. Airport Behavior ✈️

These birds have even been spotted at airports, where they wait for airplanes to taxi by, dislodging insects from the grass. This behavior further highlights their opportunism and adaptability. [source]

7. Arabic Name 🦗

In Arabic, Cattle Egrets are known as Abu Gerdan (طائر أبو قردان), meaning "father of ticks," referencing the high number of parasites often found in their breeding colonies. This name reflects the bird's association with parasitic insects. [source]

8. Fly Control 🪰

In Australia, studies show that Cattle Egrets significantly reduce the number of flies that irritate cattle by pecking them off the animals skin, offering a natural pest management solution for farmers. [source]

9. Hawaiian Introduction 🌴

In 1959, the Hawaiian Board of Agriculture released 25 Cattle Egrets on Kaua'i to help control insects and flies that troubled cattle. Their introduction has proven successful in reducing pest populations. [source]

10. Vast Range and Population 🌏

With an estimated range of 10 million square kilometers and a global population of up to 6.7 million individuals, the Cattle Egret is one of the most widespread and populous bird species in the world. [source]