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Taiga Flycatcher Draws Crowds to Vancouver in First-Ever Canada Sighting

Researchers attribute the rare appearance to a trans-Pacific weather miscue.

Overview

  • Ethan Moon discovered the bird on Dec. 25 at Sunset Beach Park near the Vancouver Aquatic Centre and reported it on eBird.
  • Dozens of birders have gathered daily at the park to view the vagrant, with interest spreading across North America.
  • The species breeds across northern Eurasia and typically winters in South and Southeast Asia, making North American records exceptional.
  • The last documented North American sighting cited in coverage was in California in 2006, underscoring the rarity.
  • Migration researcher Mason Maron says the bird was likely blown off course by Pacific weather and may linger locally, though its stay remains uncertain.