The cattle egret ( Bubulcus ibis ) is one of the most successful avian explorers in history. Unlike most species that spread due to human transport, these birds conquered the globe largely on their own wings. The Great Migration

For centuries, the cattle egret was found only in Africa, Southern Europe, and parts of Asia. However, in the late 1800s, they began an incredible journey.

: They trail behind cattle, horses, and tractors to catch insects stirred up by movement.

: Around 1877, they crossed the Atlantic Ocean from Africa to South America.