Which Cattle Egret? Iran (1 Viewer)

[Shahrzad]

This photo belongs to my friend Nasir Taei from Iran. He photographed it about 1 month ago ( 16 July 2021)
Location: Varamin ( 35.290405, 51.461631 )
I would be grateful if you could comment on this bird (Eastern or Western Cattle Egret)

 

[Andy Adcock]

Looks pretty good for Eastern to me?

Here's a link to a pdf

Redirect Notice

 

[Vyomkesh]

Agreed on Eastern Cattle Egrets in breeding plumage

Western in breeding would have much stouter red bill getting yellow towards tip.

 

[birdboybowley]

And, more obviously, Western never show that much ginger colouration

 

[Butty]

Western in breeding would have much stouter red bill getting yellow towards tip.

The paper cited above...

• indicates that, compared to eastern cattle egret, the bill of western cattle egret is a) shorter and b) not deeper.
• does not include bill-colour as one of the useful ID features - and note that the bill-colour of many heron species can change dramatically and over a very short time-period during the breeding season.

 

[Vyomkesh]

The paper cited above...

• indicates that, compared to eastern cattle egret, the bill of western cattle egret is a) shorter and b) not deeper.
• does not include bill-colour as one of the useful ID features - and note that the bill-colour of many heron species can change dramatically and over a very short time-period during the breeding season.

Didn't see the paper actually