Bubulcus: Ibis

Their success comes from a unique "commensal" relationship with larger animals.

: They often stand directly on an animal's back to eat ticks and parasites. bubulcus ibis

: They trail behind cattle, horses, and tractors to catch insects stirred up by movement. Their success comes from a unique "commensal" relationship

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.

: Today, they are found on every continent except Antarctica. Nature's Clever Hitchhikers

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