We are constantly underestimating the abilities - especially the intelligence - of wild animals. I think this is partly to do with the fact that the potential intelligence levels of certain species "freaks us out", or at least shakes up our view of things in a somewhat uncomfortable way.

You were close; it's actually a little green large brained heron.

"Primitive" little bird? I don't think so. Creatures that we like to think of as lesser beings, are far more complex than we care to know. Some of my acquaintances appear to be much dumber that this little heron.

Tom

Wow, that's cool--smart bird. I think you guys are right--that's a green heron. I once saw an alligator use floating weeds for cover--it pushed the weeds with it's snout up to a good ambush spot and hid behind the weeds.

Smart bird. I don't think my dog could do that!!

The bird is a green heron (butorides virescens)- a common heron of the eastern US. My favorite nickname for this bird is "shitepoke", so called for its habits of taking flight, pooping in mid-air and flying away. Other species of herons spread their wings as they wade in shallow water and take fish that swim into the shade of their wings.

Thats a smart bird to learn to do something like that.