The cattle egret is a cosmopolitan species of heron found in the tropics, subtropics, and warmtemperate zones. It is the only member of the monotypic genus Bubulcus, although some authorities regard its two subspecies as full species, the western cattle egret and the eastern cattle egret.

It is native to southern Eurasia and Africa, and has colonized North and South America and Australasia in the 20th century.

A conspicuous species, the cattle egret has attracted many common names. These mostly relate to its habit of following cattle and other large animals, and it is known variously as cow crane, cow bird or cow heron, or even elephant bird or rhinoceros egret.

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