Heron-type bird, but what is it?

Question

Earlier today, I saw a big heron-looking bird that I'd never seen before. I looked up pictures just out of curiosity, to see what species it was.

Nothing came up that looked like what I saw. It resembled a blue heron, but the coloring was wrong. Where it would be light colored on a blue heron, it was dark, almost black. Where the dark color on a blue would be, it was a light grey.

It looked to be much larger than a blue heron, though I was pretty far away. It had a long, thin beak, and an almost pointed head.

Any clues?

Answer 1

Maybe a Tricolored Heron.

Here's a page of info. with a photo.

http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBir...

Hope that helps.

Answer 2

It could be a heron with a pigmentation problem.