A familiar sight

cow and bird
@allknowing (130750)
India
December 18, 2015 7:52pm CST
Around this time every year we see this sight in our vicinity. This bird is seen strolling along giving the cow company. It will follow the cow wherever it goes. They seem to get along fine. No other bird does this. I wonder what it is that gets this bird to befriend a cow.
4 people like this
4 responses
@nanette64 (20364)
• Fairfield, Texas
19 Dec 15
@rebelann is correct @allknowing . This is called a Cattle Egret and as the cows move and graze, they stir up insects and small vertebrae prey that the Egret eats.
1 person likes this
@rebelann (111653)
• El Paso, Texas
19 Dec 15
Oh wow, I didn't know it was an Egret but now I know what 1 kinda looks like.
1 person likes this
@rebelann (111653)
• El Paso, Texas
19 Dec 15
Oh, we get those white herons in the agriculture areas in the valley, way back I tried to get pics of em but when I got out of my car I must have spooked em and they flew off dangit @nanette64
1 person likes this
@nanette64 (20364)
• Fairfield, Texas
19 Dec 15
@rebelann They're a pretty bird and a member of the Heron family.
1 person likes this
@paigea (36029)
• Canada
19 Dec 15
They make an interesting pair.
1 person likes this
@Asylum (47893)
• Manchester, England
19 Dec 15
Maybe the bird fell out with the pig and decided to choose a new friend.
@allknowing (130750)
• India
19 Dec 15
You are right. I have seen crows riding on piggy backs
1 person likes this
@rebelann (111653)
• El Paso, Texas
19 Dec 15
Could it be the cow is helping the bird find insects by virtue of eating the grass?
@rebelann (111653)
• El Paso, Texas
19 Dec 15
Oh, so you didn't see this for yourself @allknowing ?
@allknowing (130750)
• India
19 Dec 15
@rebelann I see them from a distance and so would not know what the egret is up to (lol)