What is this bird?

nozh2002

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Thanks, Vassili.
 
It would help to give the location where the picture was taken.
 
How big is it? What's the location? Did it make any sound? My first thought was some kind of rail.
 
I agree. Certainly looks like a heron. We have the "green heron" here locally, and it looks pretty much identical save for coloration.
He'll likely not find much fodder in that wading pool...
 
That's a Night Heron, but it's a young juvenile. The colors on the head will change and become more uniform as it gets older.
 
If you photographed it in California, it is most likely a juvenile Black-Crowned Night Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax).

In the eastern US there is also a Yellow-Crowned Night Heron (Nyctanassa violacea) that looks very similar as a juvenile (smaller light speckles on the back).

As Brian mentioned, it's color pattern will look different as an adult.

Link to more info about the Black-Crowned Night Heron.
 
It is in California - Bay Area.

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I hope it will came back when it will grown up. Beautiful bird!

Thanks, Vassili.
 
Looks like he's in process of learning. "Where are the damn fish? I see water, but no damn fish?!!" :D
 
If you stock your "pond", and he has a lot of luck fishing there, you can be pretty sure he'll come back.
 
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