Do you know which water bird this is?

I've been trying unsuccessfully to get a good photograph of this bird. I took some in the rain today to see if that would be any better, but it wasn't. This one is the best for just seeing what it looks like. But for a while I've had it in my head for some reason that this was a little green heron, but in looking at images tonight it doesn't look at all like that. Maybe if I know what it is I'll be able to get a good photograph of it. :) Thank you.

Little Blue Heron

Thank you, Nate!

I believe this is a Reddish Egret

I forgot that I am new to bird photography and after reviewing my field guide, I am not sure. Sorry.

Barbara,

I agee with Nate's ID of Little Blue Heron

That is a Reddish Egret. He is sometimes called the drunken egret because of his strange feeding behavior, ie, spreading wings, running with head to one side, sudden stops and starts, etc,. If you ever see him feeding, you will never forget it. Hope you get to enjoy his odd behavior. Ray

Nate and Mia are correct in calling this a Little Blue Heron. The bluish bill with a dark tip is a good tip off. Structurally, the Little Blue has a rather short neck which is apparent here too. I suspect that people calling this a Reddish are being thrown off by the purplish tones in the head an neck, a Little Blue trait that is often not that visible or that well illustrated in field guides. In any case, the color of head and neck on a Reddish show much more contrast with the body plumage.

I don't know why I didn't think of this before. I have attached an image with a Little Blue Heron on top and the Reddish Egret below.

Note the difference in the color of the legs. Both have a black tipped bill, but in breeding plumage the Reddish Egret has pink on the bill close to the face. Mature Reddish Egrets have a "mane", Little Blue Herons do not. The Little Blue does have a blue cast to the body feathers, the Reddish Egrets has a rusty undertone except for the white morph of the reddish egret

So, oddly enough (considering this conversation), this was what I saw this evening.

Barbara, that is a Little Blue Heron on the left and a young Tricolored Heron on the right

Thanks, Mia and everyone!