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yellow legs, gray backside, brown back/wings, white chest, black stripe down center of neck. I only show up when yard is flooded. We travel in groups of 3-5.

French Settlement, Livingston Parish La. 

Looks like a tricolored heron. I live here in Northeast LA, and have yet to see one of these.

Tricolored (formerly Louisiana) looks right to me.

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"I put it down. you gotta pick it up." —Thelonious Monk

Local's call this bird a cromback or grombach....and they say it is worth 25000.00 if you kill one. I had looked at the tricolor heron... But the color on the back is all wrong. His back is slick/ flat feathers. This is a side view picture I have  sorry it is blurry.

Could be a juvenile, without his full coloration right now. It still appears to be a tricolored though

Juvenile Tricolored Heron

Definitely a juvenile Tricolored heron.

I agree with Tricolored Heron. We can rule out a Great Blue Heron and Little blue heron, because of coloration. It definately isn't a green heron, and its markings match that of a Tricolored. Nice pictures.

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New Additions to Life List: semipalmated plover, prairie warbler, belted kingfisher, ruddy turnstone

Definitely a juvenile Tricolored Heron, I can see why it threw you off, looks quite different from the adult. Go here for a picture of a juvenile.

 

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featherbrain

Try out my photo quiz!

Life is simple: Eat, Sleep, and BIRD!

"Walk softly and carry a big scope!"

Here's what they look like a bit younger, at the age when they leave the nest.

http://www.whatbird.com/forums/photos/nieblas_gallery/category1211/picture19363.aspx

 

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Chris from Denver

I've heard of a dead duck,but why on earth a Heron!!