Wading birdsHerons, Egrets, and Bitterns

Western Cattle-Egret

Ardea ibis

The western cattle egret is a species of heron found in the tropics, subtropics and warm temperate zones. Formerly, most taxonomic authorities lumped this species and the eastern cattle egret together, but the two cattle egrets 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. Originally native to parts of Africa, southwest Asia and southern Europe, it has undergone a rapid expansion in its distribution and successfully colonised much of the New World in the last century.

Where it's been seen

Hotspots with reports in the last 30 days.

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Hornsby Bend (HOTE 037)Oct 21 · 2:33 PM
Commons Ford Ranch Metro ParkOct 20 · 8:13 AM
Congress Ave. (Ann W. Richards) Bridge (HOTE 041), AustinOct 19 · 6:38 PM
Roy G Guerrero Park—Cliff Overlook AreaOct 17 · 5:46 PM
Roy G. Guerrero Colorado River Metro ParkOct 16 · 7:38 AM
Zilker Park (HOTE 043)Oct 9 · 6:45 PM
Turkey Bend area (Travis Co.)Oct 6 · 7:10 AM
Bar K Park Lago Vista (limited access)Oct 4 · 4:56 PM
Pace Bend ParkOct 4 · 4:53 PM
Southeast Greenway, MuellerOct 4 · 8:15 AM
Arrowhead ParkSep 29 · 11:58 AM
Walter E. Long Lake (HOTE-036)Sep 29 · 7:15 AM
FM973 pond near River Rd., AustinSep 27 · 8:32 AM
Quarries Park, AustinSep 23 · 7:06 AM

Also reported at 5 private locations (not shown).

Updated 12:13 PM

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Through the year

Summer visitor · usually Mar–Nov

Western Cattle-Egret: share of complete checklists, 2016–2026

Show as table

Western Cattle-Egret: share of complete checklists, 2016–2026
Week	Checklists reporting it
Jan 1–7	<0.1%
Jan 8–14	0.2%
Jan 15–21	0.1%
Jan 22–end	0%
Feb 1–7	0%
Feb 8–14	<0.1%
Feb 15–21	<0.1%
Feb 22–end	0.2%
Mar 1–7	0.2%
Mar 8–14	0.3%
Mar 15–21	0.6%
Mar 22–end	1%
Apr 1–7	3%
Apr 8–14	3%
Apr 15–21	3%
Apr 22–end	3%
May 1–7	3%
May 8–14	4%
May 15–21	5%
May 22–end	6%
Jun 1–7	5%
Jun 8–14	7%
Jun 15–21	6%
Jun 22–end	7%
Jul 1–7	11%
Jul 8–14	11%
Jul 15–21	10%
Jul 22–end	10%
Aug 1–7	9%
Aug 8–14	9%
Aug 15–21	9%
Aug 22–end	7%
Sep 1–7	4%
Sep 8–14	3%
Sep 15–21	4%
Sep 22–end	4%
Oct 1–7	3%
Oct 8–14	2%
Oct 15–21	2%
Oct 22–end (now)	3%
Nov 1–7	3%
Nov 8–14	0.9%
Nov 15–21	0.5%
Nov 22–end	0.4%
Dec 1–7	0.1%
Dec 8–14	0.3%
Dec 15–21	0.2%
Dec 22–end	<0.1%

This week: Scarce · 3% of checklists
Peak: mid Jul · 11% of checklists
Earliest eBird record here: Apr 25, 1966
Checklists reporting it: 9,340 across 61 years
eBird high count: 1,100 (Apr 17, 2014)
First of 2026: Jan 4
All year, here vs Texas: 3% of checklists here, 6% statewide
Texas counties with records: 250 of 254 since 2016

Best hotspots for it

Share of complete checklists at each hotspot that reported it (2016–2026). Hotspots with fewer than 15 checklists are left out, and the order discounts small samples, so a hotspot with few checklists can sit below one with a lower share.

1Webberville Park (Big & Little) (HOTE 035)36% of 61
2Webberville Park (Big)(HOTE 035)25% of 124
3Barkley Meadows Park15% of 221
4Hornsby Bend (HOTE 037)15% of 3,769
5Hidden Lake Elementary School (Restricted Access)15% of 20
6Eastside Metropolitan Pk11% of 19
7Goodnight Ranch Community Ponds8% of 52
8Webberville Park (Little)8% of 53

From the eBird Basic Dataset (Sep-2026), complete checklists only.

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