Scientific name: Bubulcus ibis (Linnaeus, 1758)
Bird group: Bitterns and Herons
Field characters. 48-53 cm. Appears white at distance. Somewhat smaller, more compact, and with shorter neck than Little Egret; distinctive heavy jowl. In breeding season, long tufts of pink-buff to orange-buff feathers on crown, throat and mantle conspicuous at close range. Non-breeding plumage white. Bill yellow with red base in breeding season, legs reddish; in winter, legs and bill yellowish. Juvenile white, without tufts of elongated feathers, and with yellow bill and yellow-green legs.
Voice. During the breeding season various croaking calls.
Distribution. Breeds locally in very small to fairly large colonies.
Habitat. Breeds in or below tops of medium-sized deciduous trees or in thickets in lowland areas. Feeds on pastures, semi-arid steppes, arable fields, banks of rivers, ponds, lakes, etc., usually close to herds of cattle or other livestock; least restricted to aquatic habitats of European herons.
Food. Prey consists mainly of insects, captured on wet or dry land or in shallow water, usually where cattle or other large mammals are present.
Eggs. Unmarked, ground colour almost white, tinged pale green or blue. Texture often with very fine lengthwise grooves, not glossy. Shape subelliptical/long elliptical. Size 45 x 34 mm (41-53 x 32-36), weight 28 g. Distinguishable from other herons by its light colour.