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Rare Japanese bird spotted on Chicago lakefront
Chicago, Aug 10: Chicago had an unexpected visitor this week, when bird watchers on the city`s lakefront spotted a rare black-tailed gull believed to have begun its journey in Japan.
Chicago, Aug 10: Chicago had an unexpected visitor this week, when bird watchers on the city's lakefront spotted a rare black-tailed gull believed to have begun its journey in Japan.
The bird was spotted shortly after dawn on Friday on a city beach overlooking Lake Michigan, the Chicago Tribune reported on Saturday. By 1 p.m. local time, birders from as far as away as southern Illinois had gathered to get a glimpse of the raregull.
Black-tailed gulls, native to Japan and Siberia, have been spotted in New England and on the Aleutian Islands in Alaska. Experts cited by the newspaper believe recent spottings mark the first time the species has been seen in the Great Lakes region.
They speculated the bird either flew from Japan or caught a ride on a freighter. The gull was first spotted in Racine, Wisconsin on June 12.
Black-tailed gulls are roughly the same size as common ring-billed gulls seen on Chicago's lakeshore, but they have darker mantles, black tails, and red-tipped beaks, the newspaper said. Bureau Report
Black-tailed gulls, native to Japan and Siberia, have been spotted in New England and on the Aleutian Islands in Alaska. Experts cited by the newspaper believe recent spottings mark the first time the species has been seen in the Great Lakes region.
They speculated the bird either flew from Japan or caught a ride on a freighter. The gull was first spotted in Racine, Wisconsin on June 12.
Black-tailed gulls are roughly the same size as common ring-billed gulls seen on Chicago's lakeshore, but they have darker mantles, black tails, and red-tipped beaks, the newspaper said. Bureau Report