Elements that make up the diet of the Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis) in Hidalgo, Mexico

Abstract

The Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis) is an avian species native to Africa that has the ability to adapt to different habitats, environmental characteristics, and available food sources. We collected a total of 2,400 Cattle Egret excreta from four resting colonies during the months of January to March 2020, in the region of Tulancingo de Bravo, Hidalgo, Mexico; in order to identify the elements that make up the diet of the Cattle Egret. Samples were placed in 70% alcohol, and later analysed with a stereoscopic microscope. We identified a total of 1,677 items from 16 taxonomic entities that could be grouped in four categories. Arthropods were the main component in samples (51.8%), particularly insects of the order Orthoptera and Coleoptera. Other components in samples were plant material (26.6%), animal remains (13.9%), and plastic or other non-biological material (7.7%). We also report the first record of the Red-Spotted Toad (Anaxyrus punctatus) as a possible component in the diet of the Cattle Egret. The predominance of insects, particularly Orthoptera and Coleoptera, in the Cattle Egret diet in our study reflects the extent of agricultural activities in the region. Our study provides the first report on the diet of the Cattle Egret in an agricultural area or Hidalgo, Mexico, and corresponds with other studies, where variations in diet depend on the region, habitat, climate, and extent of environmental contamination.

Keywords

• Anaxyrus punctatus
• feeding habits
• Arthropods
• dietary composition
• excreta analysis