Cattle Egret, Little Egret, whats the difference

[Kayleigh]

I see what I think are little egrets on farmland where sheep graze..How can I be sure they are little egrets and not cattle egrets as they look the same to an untrained eye..The land is private and they are at the other end of the field so I can't get any pics that would show any detail..

[Tursiops2]

Cattle egret is slightly smaller than Little, with a shorter, yellow, bill; difficult to make out at a distance, I imagine (I've not seen CE yet myself). Main difference is habitat.

Rare Bird Alert is reporting a Cattle egret near Fotheringhay, Northants, today
Latest Sightings Map - BirdForum
Is this near you?

[Ollie]

Little Egret has a black bill and Cattle has a yellow bill. Little Egret also has darkish legs and yellow feet. I think the cattle Egret's feet are the same colour as it's legs
Roger

[Chas]

Originally Posted by Kayleigh

.How can I be sure they are little egrets and not cattle egrets as they look the same to an untrained eye..

They don't really look the same, similar maybe but just look for the colour of the beak and that will confirm immediately. Black and pointey for Little, Yellow and a bit blunt for the Cattle. they are about the same size, the little is a little more elegant. Like the difference between French and Saunders if that makes sense!

Wildlife in a Suburban Garden

[Gill Catton]

also bear in mind that little egret are far more common in the UK than cattle egret

[Kayleigh]

Originally Posted by Tursiops2

Cattle egret is slightly smaller than Little, with a shorter, yellow, bill; difficult to make out at a distance, I imagine (I've not seen CE yet myself). Main difference is habitat.

Rare Bird Alert is reporting a Cattle egret near Fotheringhay, Northants, today
Latest Sightings Map - BirdForum
Is this near you?

Fotheringhay is near Peterborough and Oundle so its not on our doorstep we are near Silverstone.
I will try to get a positive id but like I said they are at the other end of the field...But at least I know what I'm looking for now..

[Tursiops2]

Originally Posted by Gill Catton

also bear in mind that little egret are far more common in the UK than cattle egret

True enough, but with the number of CEs in the country this winter, any egret in a field of sheep has to be worth close scrutiny

[John]

I thought it best to actually include photos I have taken of these birds to show the differences.

First the Cattle Egret.




Next the Little Egret


John

[John]

Hi Kayleigh

I actually went through Silverstone yesterday. I went to Foxcote Reservoir near Buckingham then came back up the A413 to the A43 before cutting through the countryside to go to Boddington Reservoir.

Nice part of the world.

John

Originally Posted by Kayleigh

Fotheringhay is near Peterborough and Oundle so its not on our doorstep we are near Silverstone.
I will try to get a positive id but like I said they are at the other end of the field...But at least I know what I'm looking for now..

[RobinP]

If it's in a field with farm animals (usually cattle, surprise, surprise) it's probably a cattle egret. If it's in or near water, it's probably a little egret.

After that, look at bill colour for confirmation.