What are those white birds called that hang around cows?

Question

I live in Oklahoma (and I have seen these birds in other states as well) but when I see a cow pasture I see these white birds that are always hanging around the cows... they actually seem like they are part of the herd.

What are these birds and why do they hang around the cows??

Answer 1

Hi I live in Oklahoma as well  and have seen this birds allot. Here is what I know about them.

They are called: Cattle Egret Bubulcus Ibis

1. This bird is native to Africa and Asia. They eventually migrated to Australia and parts of Southeastern America.

2. They stand somewhat hunched over. They're about 46-56 cm tall and their wingspan is about 88-96 cm. Their color is mostly white.

3. The Cattle Egret chills with grazing animals such as livestock, elephants, buffalo and other large animals you might see at a zoo. The Cattle Egrets eat small animals such as crickets, flies, grasshoppers, even spiders and frogs! All they do is hang around the grazing animal. As the large animal eats, it stirs up the small animals for the Cattle Egret to dart forward and swallow their prey whole.

4. Cattle Egrets help control the flies around grazing animals which Ranchers seem to think do a better job than pesticides.

5. When they lay eggs, there are anywhere from 2 to 6 eggs which only take 18 to 30 days to hatch.

You can see a nice picture of one here: http://www.ecuador-travel.net/biodiversi...

Hope that helps

Answer 2

there called starks and they hang around cow's because wen the cows disturb the ground the bugs come out of the ground and they eat the bugs.