Bird rarely seen in North America makes surprise appearance in popular Maine seaside town

THE TAKEAWAY

A rare Gray Heron has been spotted in Cape Elizabeth, Maine, giving birdwatchers an opportunity to see a species that has only been documented a handful of times in the U.S.

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The Maine Audubon said the bird was discovered on Oct. 18 in the fields of Jordan Farm.

It has since been seen in other areas close to the farm.

The sighting has brought in crowds of birdwatchers hoping to catch a glimpse of the bird.

Gray Herons are extremely rare in North America, with only a small number of sightings reported.

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According to Rare Birds of North America, two Gray Herons were spotted in far western Alaska and two sightings were reported in Newfoundland in 1996 and 2002.

The U.S. didn’t record its first Gray Heron sightings until 2020, when the bird was first spotted on Tuckernuck Island and then on Muskeget Island in Massachusetts.

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Gray herons are the Old World counterparts of Great Blue Herons. The two species look very similar.

However, several characteristics can distinguish them.

Gray Herons are smaller, with shorter legs and a smaller, less heavy bill than Great Blue Herons.

They also have white feathers on their wrists and thighs, while Great Blue Herons have reddish-brown coloring in those areas. Their neck patterns are also different, too.

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Officials are now reminding visitors hoping to use caution and respect the surrounding area while trying to catch a glimpse of the rare bird.