Common name: Western Cattle Egret
Scientific name: Bubulcus ibis
Family: Ardeidae

Size:
Body length: 46–56 cm
Wingspan: 88–96 cm
Weight: 270–500 g

Identification:
A compact white egret with a relatively short neck and thick yellow bill. In non-breeding plumage, it is entirely white with yellow bill and legs. During the breeding season, it develops buff-orange plumes on the head, chest, and back. In flight, it appears stocky with steady wingbeats and retracted neck.

Habitat:
Agricultural lands, grasslands, wetlands, riverbanks, and open countryside. Often closely associated with livestock and human activity.

Status in Lebanon:
Common resident and breeder. Widespread across lowland areas, farmland, and wetlands.

Diet:
Carnivorous — feeds on insects, grasshoppers, beetles, small vertebrates, and occasionally amphibians.

Behavior:
Frequently seen walking among cattle or following tractors, feeding on disturbed prey. Social and often found in flocks. Roosts and breeds colonially, usually in trees near water.

Conservation status:
Least Concern (IUCN Red List)