A bird native to Russia has made its way to Canada for the first time
A bird native to Russia has somehow made its way to Canadian shores this December, with Vancouver birders spotting an extremely rare taiga flycatcher over the holidays.
The bird was spotted by Vancouver birder Ethan Moon at Sunset Beach Park on Christmas Day, a find that quickly had birders and nature enthusiasts flocking to the spot to capture a glimpse of the tiny grey bird.
“It’s a Christmas miracle! (Seriously, how does this happen?),” He wrote on the birding app eBird. “I don’t want to be known as the flycatcher guy ā I like gulls!”
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While the post was tongue-in-cheek, the sighting itself is no small deal. It’s unclear how the taiga flycatcher ended up in Canada, but it’s believed to be the first time one has been spotted in the country.
The small migratory bird, also known as the red-throated flycatcher, is native to northern Eurasia and usually breeds in places like Russia and Siberia before spending the winter in South and Southeast Asia.
Seeing one so far off course is incredibly rare. The species is considered an occasional vagrant to western Europe, and sightings in North America are even more unusual.
“I am actually incredibly grateful for this experience,” Moon continued.