Identification please

[denja]

This photo was taken in Sept. in Michigan. I snapped it not for the image itself but for identification of the bird. I don't think I have ever seen anything like this before - especially in Michigan. Please forgive the quality of the image, as it was taken at 970mm handheld. Of the 970 mm, only 400 of that is optical zoom, the remaining portion being digital. I also had to bump the ISO to 800 to even hope to hold 900 mm steady. Thanks for any help I can get on this.

Jim

[joao.pereira]

Hi!
I think it's a Heron.

[My Life is Pink]

It's either a Heron, Egret or Crane. Do a google to narrow it down.

[mikedugganphotography]

Looks to be a Blue Heron to me.

[denja]

Mmmmmmmmmmm - I thought heron possibly when I first saw it, but have not been able to find any heron examples that have a beard like this. I currently live in Denver near a Blue Heron rookery, and it is not a Blue Heron. Thanks all, keep 'em coming.

Jim

[Tenzin'sMom]

I'm reasonably sure that it is a great blue heron. It's a little difficult to see some of the identifying features, but the black eyebrow stripe and black shoulder patch on the wing are characteristic of the great blue. What we can't see in your photo, but perhaps you remember, would be a yellow bill, white head, and yellow legs. It ranges from southern Canada to Mexico, and is found in Colorado. I've just looked it up in my favorite bird field guid, Roger Tory Peterson's Western Birds. They're wonderful birds -- I hope you're able to photograph him again!

[bascott]

From what I have found, it looks like a Blue Heron:

[Tenzin'sMom]

Wow, Brian, what a very cool photo! I've never seen a great blue with a fish that size! Thanks for sharing it!

[bascott]

Originally Posted by Tenzin'sMom

Wow, Brian, what a very cool photo! I've never seen a great blue with a fish that size! Thanks for sharing it!

Thanks Helen, but I can't take credit for this one. I did an image search and found it. Just wanted to show for comparison, I should probably take it down.

[denja]

My thanks to everyone! Finally, I have located a picture of a Great Blue Heron that does exhibit the beard that i saw in my image. This is the only other image of a Great Blue that I have seen with a beard. I guess that is what really thru me. Thanks again to everyone.

Jim