‘Common cuckoo’ sighting draws people from across the country as experts are left baffled over how bird got to US
Frenzy over rare bird sighting as people flock to US state for glimpse
- A common cuckoo, typically found across Europe and Asia, has been sighted in New York for the first time ever, drawing significant attention from bird enthusiasts.
- The rare bird was initially photographed by a golfer in Riverhead, Long Island, and its identity was subsequently confirmed by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.
- Birders have since recorded over 200 sightings of the cuckoo on ebird.org and various social media platforms, with many travelling long distances to observe it.
- Experts suggest the bird is a juvenile that likely became lost or was blown off course during its migration, as common cuckoos typically winter in Africa.
- This sighting represents only the fourth confirmed instance of a common cuckoo in the eastern U.S. and Canada, making it a major event for the birding community.