Sent this to Matt earlier; meant to send to the list as well... BW -------- Original Message -------- Subject: Re: [Ohio-birds] Cattle Egrets at ONWR Date: Tue, 27 Aug 2013 09:32:38 -0400 From: Bill Whan <[log in to unmask]> To: Matt Valencic <[log in to unmask]> Matt and all-- On a quick look, I really doubt the second bird is a cattle egret at all. It looks lankier, taller, the head structure lacks the underslung portion below the lower mandible. The bill looks overall much longer than a cattle's, recalling a snowy or even a little egret. To me it suggests little egret, too, but I've seen only one of these that I looked at carefully, mainly because it was in Delaware. Too small for reddish. The dark feet seem to rule out out snowy and little...maybe More photos, descriptions of behavior, might help. Did the second bird ever wade in the water, as a cattle egret is unlikely to do? See Sibley on other actions. What are the variations in leg/foot color in various ages of these white herons? I think the second bird might need some extra info from Matt; I suspect he has more photos, and could describe behavior. Bill Whan Columbus ______________________________________________________________________ Ohio-birds mailing list, a service of the Ohio Ornithological Society. Our thanks to Miami University for hosting this mailing list. Additional discussions can be found in our forums, at www.ohiobirds.org/forum/. You can join or leave the list, or change your options, at: http://listserv.muohio.edu/scripts/wa.exe?LIST=OHIO-BIRDS Send questions or comments about the list to: [log in to unmask]