Galapagos Species Database
The Galapagos Species Database shares the information about the species from our Natural History Collections.
Bubulcus ibis
Garza bueyera, Cattle Egret
See Phillips et al. 2012. First report in 1960. This species was originally considered native due to its strong dispersal capacity. Following this, it was categorized as an introduced species because its colonization was likely facilitated by the presence of introduced grazing animals and habitat modification. However, this does not meet the definition of an introduced species (species that are brought by humans accidentally or intentionally to Galapagos). Further information needs to be collected to confirm that it arrived by natural means.
Domain
Eukaryota
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Class
Aves
Order
Pelecaniformes
Family
Ardeidae
Genus
Bubulcus
Species
ibis
Taxon category: Accepted
Origin: Cryptogenic
Map of specimen collection localities or observation records for this species in our collections database.
Distribution: Floreana, Isabela, San Cristóbal, Santa Cruz & Santiago. Occasional reports on uninhabited islands.
- Cisneros-Heredia DF. (2018) The hitchhiker wave: non-native small terrestrial vertebrates in the Galápagos. In: Torres M.L., Mena C.F., editors. Understanding Invasive Species in the Galapagos Islands. Cham: Springer; pp. 95–139.
- Freile, J.F. Santander, T., Jiménez-Uzcátegui, G., Carrasco, L., Cisneros-Heredia, D., Guevara, E., Sánchez-Nivicela, M., Tinoco, B. (2019) Lista Roja de las aves del Ecuador Quito, Ecuador. 97 pp.
- Hickin, N. (1979) Animal life of the Galapagos. Ferundune Books, Faringdon, U.K., 236 pp.
- IUCN (2015) The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2015-4. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 20 November 2015.
- Jiménez-Uzcátegui, G. Carrión, V., Zabala, J., Buitrón, P. & Milstead, B. (2007) Status of introduced vertebrates in Galapagos. Galapagos Report 2006–2007. Charles Darwin Foundation, Puerto Ayora, p. 136–141.
- Jiménez-Uzcátegui, G. Betancourt, F. (2008) Avifauna vs automotores. Informe Galápagos 2007-2008. FCD, PNG & INGALA. Puerto Ayora, Ecuador. p. 111–114.
- Lévêque, R. Bowman, R.I. & Billeb, S.L.. (1966) Migrants in the Galapagos area. Condor 68(1): 81-101.
- Pérez, S. Nowak, J.B. (1987) ¿Por primera vez anida la Garza Bueyera en Galápagos? Carta Informativa CDRS 20: 4.
- Phillips, R. B. D.A. Wiedenfeld and H.L. Snell (2012) Current status of alien vertebrates in the Galápagos Islands: invasion history, distribution, and potential impacts. Biol Invasions (2012) 14:461–480 DOI 10.1007/s10530-011-0090-z
- Swash, A. Still, R. (2000) Birds, mammals, and reptiles of the Galapagos Islands, an identification guide. Yale University Press, New Haven, Connecticut, USA, 168 pp.
- Wiedenfeld, D.A. (2006) Aves, the Galapagos Islands, Ecuador. Check List 2006 2(2): 1-27.
You are welcome to download and use the information found in this page, acknowledging its source.
This page should be cited as follows:
"Galapagos Species Database, Bubulcus ibis", dataZone. Charles Darwin Foundation, https://datazone.darwinfoundation.org/en/checklist/?species=5038. Accessed 11 June 2026.