The cattle egret is a small, white heron with an orange-yellow bill, dull legs, and a wingspan between 2.75 and 3.25 feet. Cattle egrets live in gregarious flocks and dense breeding colonies. These birds often roost with other species' colonies of water-birds. They maintain the “S” shape in their neck when flying and most other times. These adept walkers sway similarly to geese, may vault over one another when foraging, and swim when chased. Aggression is minimal and only seen at the start of the breeding season. Pairs will defend nests, but there is no territorialism when foraging for food.