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Rara avis in Milton

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.

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Comments

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

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had a bad dream?

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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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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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I think Mets fans are mostly bitterns.

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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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Poor teenage bird is lost.

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

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Wow! Spectacular bird -- lucky find!

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