Quote Originally Posted by nvitalephotography View Post
You are correct that is an American Bittern, They stand with their face pointed up like that to try and blend in. the idea is that the strips on their neck look like the grass they normally are in.
You are correct... sorry about that. They look very simular. I should have looked them up first.

Picture of Green Heron:
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Green_Heron4.jpg

Picture of American Bittern:
http://tgreybirds.com/Pages/AmericanBitternp.html