Arboreal foraging behavior by cattle egrets on mango trees in Kota district, Rajasthan

The cattle egret (Bubulcus ibis) is a cosmopolitan bird species of egret and they are found in the tropics, subtropics and warm temperate zones. Cattle egrets are active foragers commonly seen chasing insects spread out by cattle’s or running to catch insects during ploughing and irrigating of farms. Arboreal foraging by cattle egrets has been reported a unique insight occasionally, although this behavior appears to be rare, less documented and not well understood or ignored because this phenomenon is so common. We observed cattle egrets feeding on insects in mango tree (Mangifera indica L.) at four places in Kota district Rajasthan (C.V. Garden, Kunhadi area, Girdharpura and Gandhifali village). Out of these four places two had more mango trees, which led us to observing more flocks of cattle egrets (C. V. Garden & Girdharpura) from last February 2024 to mid-April 2024. We observed Cattle Egrets at all four locations feeding in the canopy of mango trees on swarms of pollinating insects attracted to flowers. Foraging egrets were scattered throughout the canopy; most remained stationary beside the flower cluster to catch insects, although on occasion more active behaviors were employed.