: They often stand directly on an animal's back to eat ticks and parasites.
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 bubulcus ibis
: By the 1940s, they reached Florida and spread across North America. : They often stand directly on an animal's
: Some ranchers prefer egrets over pesticides for natural fly control. bubulcus ibis
Their success comes from a unique "commensal" relationship with larger animals.