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Rara avis in Milton

By adamg on Mon, 10/21/2019 - 11:48am

Roving UHub photographer Mary Ellen spotted this purple gallinule in Milton over the weekend. The bird normally doesn't get much farther north than the South Carolina coast - where it uses its giant feet to step "gingerly across water lilies and other floating vegetation" as it hunts for frogs and worms. She reports the people in the house where the bird came to roost are trying to take care of it until it, hopefully, starts heading south.

Neighborhoods: 
Milton
Free tagging: 
Wildlife
Birds


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Comments

By Parkwayne on Mon, 10/21/2019 - 11:51am.

Fair assumption that this bird got here similar to how Dorothy ended up in Oz?

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By Turalura Lipschitz on Mon, 10/21/2019 - 4:00pm.

had a bad dream?

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By Sally on Mon, 10/21/2019 - 11:54am.

There was one of these on Nantucket earlier this year as reported by some birding people I follow. I’ve never seen or heard of such a thing—they are amazing looking!

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By Stevil on Mon, 10/21/2019 - 1:28pm.

Either this is a female or the wrong time of the year - but I've seen these in the everglades and they are magnificent - they look like floating/wading neon New York Mets fans!

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By Parkwayne on Mon, 10/21/2019 - 1:40pm.

I think Mets fans are mostly bitterns.

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By Stevil on Mon, 10/21/2019 - 1:48pm.

I find they are more blue footed boobies.

They are pretty resigned to losing - it's just what they do. But they have fun doing it.

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By OMED on Mon, 10/21/2019 - 1:55pm.

Poor teenage bird is lost.

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By Allstonian on Mon, 10/21/2019 - 2:50pm.

As far as I can find, fully adult males and females look pretty similar, but juveniles and immature adults don't have the full brilliant colors yet. Compare this photo: https://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/242244921

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By cinnamngrl on Mon, 10/21/2019 - 3:50pm.

And if that is true, I think animal rescue needs to come get it. Juveniles have been sighted as far away as South Africa, so I guess this is normal. They are rated "low" concern, but it will be sad if this one doesn't make it. It's going to get cold soon.

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By anon on Mon, 10/21/2019 - 4:49pm.

Must be the world's only tie-dyed bird. Hope it gets to where it's going.

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By anon on Mon, 10/21/2019 - 5:59pm.

Wow! Spectacular bird -- lucky find!

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