Recently, a group of cherished elves with bright lipstick and yellow hair came to Nansha Village, Yipeng Street. They like to stand on the back of an ox or follow behind a cow ploughing the field to peck at the insects that have been turned out and the parasites on the back of the cow, hence the name. The cattle heron sometimes combs its feathers, sometimes stretches its neck to look around, leisurely, smart and lovely, and forms a harmonious and beautiful picture with nature
Cattle heron small class
Morphological characteristics
The body length of the cattle heron is about 50 cm, the feathers on the body are mainly white, only some brownish yellow on the top of the head, the legs are nearly black, the beak is yellow, and the beak of the young bird is black, the beak is thick, and the neck is thick and short. The breeding feathers of the adult birds are brown and yellow from head to chest and some of the feathers hanging from the back, and the beak and feet are red, which is very beautiful.
Habitat
It inhabits plain meadows, pastures, lakes, reservoirs, foothills and lowwaters, ponds, dry fields and marshes. It is common to forage for food on the backs of cattle and nest in large trees, bamboo forests or cedar forests near water.
Habits
The cowback heron is called the cowback heron because in the agricultural era, people often saw it on the back of the cow. It has a symbiotic relationship with cattle that is mutually beneficial and mutually beneficial. Likes to stand on the back of a cow or follow behind a cow ploughing the field to peck at ploughed insects and parasites on the back of the cow. It is the only heron in the world that does not feed mainly on fish but on insects.
Breeding scheme
The breeding season is from April to July, and it often nests in flocks, and also often nests with egrets and night herons. The nest is made of dead branches and is lined with a little hay.
Population status
It has a wide global distribution, with eastern North America, central and northern South America, the Iberian Peninsula to Iran, India to southern China, southern Japan, Southeast Asia to the Philippines, the Malay Islands and the Maluku Islands, and is considered the national bird in Botswana.
Notes on bird watching
1. The best time for bird watching is early in the morning and late in the evening. In the early morning, there are few people, the light is soft, and the birds go out of the nest to find food frequently. In the evening, when the birds return to their nests, you can also see more birds.
2. It is recommended that everyone wear dark clothing for bird watching activities. Try to avoid choosing brightly colored clothing. Because birds have a keen eye, brightly colored clothing can irritate and disturb birds.
3. When watching birds, we hope that everyone can keep an appropriate distance. Doing so not only keeps you safe, but also creates a comfortable and cosy habitat for the birds.
Source: Yipeng release