AlinoVegano
Well-known member
I agree that it's definitely not Grey/Gray. This conclusion isn't based on likelihood, but based on the appearance of the bird and familiarity with Grey Heron. (It's interesting that most comments saying it's not Grey are from European birders, who are also probably familiar with Grey).
For me, the main factor against Grey is the head pattern. I don't think Grey would ever show such an extensively black crown reaching as far as the bill, or show the streaked forecrown present on this bird. Adult Grey has a fully white crown with the black streak terminating above the eye, not reaching the bill. Juvenile Grey shows an extensively grey crown, much paler than on your bird. Older immatures would be intermediate, but still not show black extending as far as the bill. The black also seems to extend low onto the sides of the head behind the eye, compared to a typical Grey Heron.
Supplemental features that look odd for Grey are an apparently heavy bill and what look to me like very dark (blackish) legs on the flight photos (I can't see the legs as being yellow, as you suggested in the original post).
I am not at all familiar with Cocoi, so can't really comment much on that ID, but from online photos that looks better to me than Grey.
Yes, European birders see Grey Herons daily or very often, and there is never one like this. Head pattern is the most obvious, as the shape of head/bill, and other details in the plumage.
On my side, I spent most of last year in Colombia and have seen many Cocoi Herons. The op bird has nothing against being one. We have excluded Great Blue so the case is settled.