Posted by Robin on June 19, 2002 at 14:39:42:
I was stopped at a light a few blocks from the Doc Watson house and saw an amazing flamboyant bird perched on a rock wall. I am a novice and don't know the terms, but it was perhaps heron-like, the body approx. 18'', black with white spots, the beak light colored,thick, straight and pointed. The most striking part was a very long, very luxuriant headress of iridescent green, that extended down the long neck to end in a "flip". I've looked in every book I own, (and all those in the birding section @ Border's), and I can't find anything remotely similar. It really looked nothing like the green herons I see in the books, unless perhaps they are very very different in juvenile states. I would appreciate any guidance. Thanks.