What is it? Three images ...

[Arthur Morris]

From Fort DeSoto last week.

See the blog post here (http://www.birdsasart-blog.com/2017/09/28/mystery-egret/) for gear and exposure info. Best to try to figure out the bird before looking at the blog post. It was well smaller than a Great Egret and did not exhibit any drunken sailor fishing behavior ...

with love, artie

[Arthur Morris]

Head and shoulders portrait from below.

[Arthur Morris]

Tight head portrait.

[Joseph Przybyla]

Hey Artie, here is a image I captured at Circle B Bar Reserve in 2015. With your help putting me in contact with those in the know it was identified as a cross between a Snowy Egret and a Tri-colored Heron. Like yours at Ft. De Soto it was smaller that a Great Egret and a Great Blue Heron, actually about the size of a Snowy and Tri-colored. Interesting world...

[Tim Foltz]

Looks like an immature Little Blue heron… I would bet on it.

-Tim

[Joseph Przybyla]

Looks like an immature Little Blue heron… I would bet on it.

-Tim

Hi Tim, the immature Little Blue Heron colors are similar but the bill, lore, legs, and feet are different. Also the bird in my image was mature, I think the bird in Artie's image is also mature. These are definitely hybrids, if I had not photographed it and then had experts identify it as a hybrid I would not have believed it possible.

[Tim Foltz]

Hi Tim, the immature Little Blue Heron colors are similar but the bill, lore, legs, and feet are different. Also the bird in my image was mature, I think the bird in Artie's image is also mature. These are definitely hybrids, if I had not photographed it and then had experts identify it as a hybrid I would not have believed it possible.

Thanks Joe, I would have lost that one, sure looks like the immatures I've seen here in So. CA.

-Tim

[Isaac Grant]

Pretty pictures Artie. I'd bet the farm that your bird is a Wurdermann's Heron. A cross between the color morphs of Great Blue. So one parent was a white morph and one was a regular Great Blue. They are highly variable. And things get crazy when one of those offspring mate with say another white morph. You get these crazy looking birds.

[Tim Foltz]

Artie, beautiful and interesting bird, nice find, nice angle and details.

-Tim

[Michael Thompson]

My guess, Tri-colored Heron Snowy Egret Hybrid.

edit, oooops I was looking at the bird on the post, never mind :p

[Jonathan Ashton]

No idea whatsoever but all excellent shots.
Is that a dust bunny centre right approximately chin height in pane 1?

[Arthur Morris]

No idea whatsoever but all excellent shots.
Is that a dust bunny centre right approximately chin height in pane 1?

Thanks Jon. I spotted that and then forgot about it :(

I have replaced the original post. With love, artie

[Robert Kimbrell]

Great thread Artie. There is always something new to learn here. This really is an attractive bird. I love the head shot in pane # 3.

[Glenn Conlan]

Great shot Artie, what is it, is Isaac correct he seems to have great bird ID knowledge

[Arthur Morris]

Pretty pictures Artie. I'd bet the farm that your bird is a Wurdermann's Heron. A cross between the color morphs of Great Blue. So one parent was a white morph and one was a regular Great Blue. They are highly variable. And things get crazy when one of those offspring mate with say another white morph. You get these crazy looking birds.

Hi Isaac, We should have talked about this bird at the diner. I did think of Wurdermann's Heron but the bill seems to slight and the bird was smaller than a Great Egret ...

With love, artie

[Arthur Morris]

Great shot Artie, what is it, is Isaac correct he seems to have great bird ID knowledge.

Don't know but do not think so as the bird is way too small. I have tried to contact lots of smart folks but only one responded and she was way off. I will revisit if I find out more.

with love, artie