Cocoi Heron in North Florida?

[Ian Anderson]

I took this photo on the shore of St. Marks NWR near Tallahassee, FL thinking it was some unusual molt of a Great Blue Heron, but someone told me that it looked like a Cocoi Heron (from Brazil!). The bird list for the NWR doesn't list it even as a rare sighting so this would be odd. Is it just an odd Great Blue or what?

[John Chardine]

I'm not seeing the image Ian.

[Ian Anderson]

I wasn't seeing it a second ago, either, but it's back. I guess SmugMug may be having some issues. Here's another version just in case. Also, the bird was very large (at least 3-4 feet tall), so likely not a juvenile:

[WIlliam Maroldo]

It is an immature Great Blue Heron. Not uncommon, and as is with most birds, the young ones are easier to approach. regards~BILL

[John Chardine]

I was thinking this too Bill but needed to do a bit more research before commenting. The Cocoi is so different as an adult that I imagined a young one to retain at least some of these differences. I couldn't find an image of an immature Cocoi to compare.

[Ian Anderson]

John - thank you - I was going to be shocked if a bird had flown that far off course!