In April 2025, we encountered a large colony of Eastern Cattle Egrets and Black-crowned Night Herons at Daan Forest Park in Taipei. While Night Herons are a common sight, this was my first time truly noticing the Eastern Cattle Egret.
The Eastern Cattle Egret (Bubulcus coromandus) is a member of the heron family (Ardeidae). It was previously classified as a subspecies of the Western Cattle Egret, but the two are now recognized as distinct species. Interestingly, despite looking like members of the Egretta genus (like the Little Egret), genetic studies show they are actually more closely related to the larger herons of the Ardea genus.
Males and females are identical, featuring a white body, a yellow bill, and a notably short, thick neck. During the breeding season (which coincides with your April visit), they develop beautiful orange-yellow ornamental feathers on the head, neck, upper chest, and back. Compared to other egrets, their profile is much "sturdier" and less slender.
Unlike most herons that stick to the water's edge, the Cattle Egret is a terrestrial specialist. They prefer dry fields and grassy habitats over shallow water. They have a famous commensal relationship with large grazing animals (like cattle or water buffalo). As the animals move through the grass, they disturb insects and small creatures, which the egrets then catch. Because of this lifestyle, they rely more on land-based insects than aquatic prey.
Native to Southern and Eastern Asia as well as Australasia, they are found throughout tropical and warm temperate zones. While some populations are migratory, others are dispersive, moving around based on food availability and nesting needs in large colonies.
2025 年 4 月，我們在臺灣台北市的大安森林公園中的大生態池看到一大群的黃頭鷺及夜鷺。我常看到夜鷺，但是這是我第一次注意到黃頭鷺。
黃頭鷺或稱東方黃頭鷺、東方牛背鷺，是鵜形目鷺科的一種鳥類。曾被視為西部牛背鷺的一個亞種，並被稱為牛背鷺。但現在它們被視為獨立的物種。雖然它們的羽毛與白鷺屬（Egretta）的白鷺相似，但它與蒼鷺屬（Ardea）的鷺類有更密切的關係。
黃頭鷺䧳雄同型，嘴黃色，全身白、額頭略帶棕黃色，頸粗短。在繁殖季節，它們的羽頭、頸、上胸及背出現橙黃色飾羽。與其他白鷺相比，它們的體型更加「健壯」，線條也更粗壯一些。
與大多數棲息在水邊的鷺類不同，黃頭鷺是陸地特有的鳥類。它們通常棲息於田野和乾燥的草地，而非淺水區。它們與大型草食動物（如牛或水牛）有著著名的共生關係。當這些動物在草地上活動時，會驚擾昆蟲和小生物，而黃頭鷺便會捕食這些獵物。由於這種生活方式，它們更依賴陸生昆蟲而非水生獵物。
它們原產於南亞、東亞和澳洲，分佈於整個熱帶和溫暖的溫帶地區。部分種群是遷徙性的候鳥，而另一些種群則是留鳥分散的，根據食物供應情況和大型群落的築巢需求而遷徙。
* 如果以下的油管影片模糊或畫質不佳，可在設置上更改畫質，改成 720p。
Notes 筆記
- The eastern cattle egret is a species of heron (family Ardeidae) and was formerly treated as a subspecies of the western cattle egret with the name "cattle egret" for the combined species. But they are now treated as separate species. Despite the similarities in plumage to the egrets of the genus Egretta, it is more closely related to the herons of Ardea. They are found in the tropics, subtropics and warm temperate zones. It is native to southern and eastern Asia, and Australasia.
- The cattle egret is a stocky heron with an 88–96 cm (35–38 in) wingspan; it is 46–56 cm (18–22 in) long and weighs 270–512 g (9.5–18.1 oz). It has a relatively short thick neck, a sturdy bill, and a hunched posture. The non-breeding adult has mainly white plumage, a yellow bill and greyish-yellow legs. In the breeding season the adults have orange-buff plumes on the throat, head and lower back. The eastern cattle egret differs from the western species in breeding plumage, when the buff colour on its head extends to the cheeks and throat, and the plumes are more golden in colour. The bill and tarsus are longer on average.
- Although the cattle egret sometimes feeds in shallow water, unlike most herons it is typically found in fields and dry grassy habitats, reflecting its greater dietary reliance on terrestrial insects rather than aquatic prey. It nests in colonies, usually near bodies of water and often with other wading birds. The nest is a platform of sticks in trees or shrubs.
- Some populations of cattle egrets are migratory, others are dispersive.
- The cattle egret feeds on a wide range of prey, particularly insects, especially grasshoppers, crickets, flies (adults and maggots), and moths, as well as spiders, frogs, and earthworms. The species is usually found with cattle and other large grazing and browsing animals, and catches small creatures disturbed by the mammals.
- 黃頭鷺或稱東方黃頭鷺、東方牛背鷺，是鵜形目鷺科的一種鳥類。曾被視為西部牛背鷺的一個亞種，並被稱為牛背鷺。但現在它們被視為獨立的物種。雖然它們的羽毛與白鷺屬（Egretta）的白鷺相似，但它與蒼鷺屬（Ardea）的鷺類有更密切的關係。它們分佈在熱帶、亞熱帶和暖溫帶地區。它原產於南亞、東亞和澳洲。
- 黃頭鷺是一種矮壯的鷺，翼展 88-96 公分（35-38 吋），體長 46-56 公分（18-22 吋），體重 270-512 公克（9.5-18.1 盎司）。它們的頸部相對較短，喙堅固，姿態蜷縮。非繁殖期的成鳥羽毛主要為白色，喙為黃色，腿為灰黃色。繁殖期成鳥的喉嚨、頭部和下背部會長著橙黃色的羽毛。黃頭鷺的繁殖期羽毛與西方物種不同，它頭部的黃褐色延伸至面頰和喉部，羽冠顏色更金黃。喙和跗骨平均較長。
- 雖然黃頭鷺有時會在淺水中覓食，但與大多數鷺類不同，它們通常棲息於田野和乾燥的草地，這反映出它們更依賴陸生昆蟲而非水生獵物的飲食。它們通常群居築巢，築巢地點靠近水體，並經常與其他涉禽共棲。巢穴是用樹枝或灌木叢中的樹枝搭建的平台。
- 一些黃頭鷺的族群是遷徙性的候鳥，另一些則是留鳥分散的。
- 黃頭鷺捕食各種獵物，特別是昆蟲，尤其是蚱蜢、蟋蟀、蒼蠅（成蟲和蛆）和蛾，以及蜘蛛、青蛙和蚯蚓。它們通常與牛和其他大型草食動物一起出現，捕捉被哺乳動物驚動的小生物。
References 參考資料
- Wikipedia: Eastern cattle egret
- HeronConservation: Cattle Egret
- 維基百科: 黃頭鷺
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