Uncommon bird sightings across New York include the mysterious 'devil bird.' Here are others

Robert Bell, Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
·2 min read

Have you spotted rare birds in New York? You aren't alone. Here is a list with photos of some uncommon birds that have been spotted.

Several infrequent flyers have been seen in western New York area over the last few months, including anhingas, known as a "devil bird."

One anhinga was spotted in Brooklyn's Prospect Park last spring, and 22 were seen by a bird watcher 180 miles north in Rome next to a canal.

A post on X from the New York County Birders indicates that the anhinga spotted in Prospect Park is the first of its species seen in New York City since 1992.

Experts suggest these birds may have strayed from their usual migration path due to climate change.

A lone Anhinga, also known as the Devil Bird, found along the Black Creek in Churchville Tuesday Dec. 15, 2020. AnhingaÕs have been nicknamed Ôsnake birdÕ for its long snakelike neck.
A lone Anhinga, also known as the Devil Bird, found along the Black Creek in Churchville Tuesday Dec. 15, 2020. AnhingaÕs have been nicknamed Ôsnake birdÕ for its long snakelike neck.

Our journalists have seen and photographed the anhinga in the Rochester area in recent years — so it is a good example that one town's rare bird might be more prevalent somewhere else in New York. The lake brings many migratory birds our way but they can change each year.

By the way, visual journalists Shawn Dowd and Tina MacIntyre-Yee at the D&C are fantastic at finding and photographing birds. If you have some rare bird sighting you would live to tell us about, or photos, contact Rob Bell at rlbell@gannett.com.

Science Explainer: Do birds get cold? Here's how they stay warm in freezing winter temperatures.

Here are some uncommon birds spotted in WNY this winter

Check out this list of birds spotted by bird watchers on ebird.org's New York Rare Bird Alert. The website gathers this information in the form of checklists, archives it and freely shares it to power new data-driven approaches to science, conservation and education. The list was fact-checked for uncommon breeding and migration patterns using a National Audubon Society database.

Pine Warbler

Canandaigua

This Pine Warbler is selecting a hulled sunflower from the feeder.
This Pine Warbler is selecting a hulled sunflower from the feeder.

Merlin

Buffalo

Snow Goose

I-81 S, Cicero, Onondaga

A Snow goose mixes in with Canada geese grazing on the grass near Irondequoit Bay on May 10, 2023.
A Snow goose mixes in with Canada geese grazing on the grass near Irondequoit Bay on May 10, 2023.

Short-eared Owl

Buckland Park, Monroe

Short Eared Owl perches on a fence post in the falling snow in the late afternoon in Geneseo, NY Monday, March 18, 2019.
Short Eared Owl perches on a fence post in the falling snow in the late afternoon in Geneseo, NY Monday, March 18, 2019.

King Eider

Sodus Bay, Sodus Point, Wayne

Trumpeter Swan

Onondaga, New York

Trumpeter Swans feed together in a flooded field outside Savannah Thursday, March 21, 2019.
Trumpeter Swans feed together in a flooded field outside Savannah Thursday, March 21, 2019.

Cackling Goose

Thornden Park, Onondaga

Cackling goose is shown in the background with a Canada goose in the foreground for size comparison.
Cackling goose is shown in the background with a Canada goose in the foreground for size comparison.

Black Scoter

Fort Niagara SP, Niagara

A black scoter, spotted during a recent boat trip out of Lorain Harbor.
A black scoter, spotted during a recent boat trip out of Lorain Harbor.

Sandhill Crane

Cayuga Overlook, Genesee

Sandhill Cranes in flight at sunrise during the annual winter migration of thousands of cranes through Jasper-Pulaski Fish & Wildlife Area in Indiana Sunday, Dec. 3, 2018.
Sandhill Cranes in flight at sunrise during the annual winter migration of thousands of cranes through Jasper-Pulaski Fish & Wildlife Area in Indiana Sunday, Dec. 3, 2018.

Golden Eagle

North Lookout, Oswego

An image of an immature golden eagle taken during the Raptor Watch in Mackinaw City. Thousands of predator birds gather near the city, using thermal pockets to gain altitude before flying across the Straits of Mackinac.
An image of an immature golden eagle taken during the Raptor Watch in Mackinaw City. Thousands of predator birds gather near the city, using thermal pockets to gain altitude before flying across the Straits of Mackinac.

Northern Saw-whet Owl

Genesee County Park and Forest, Genesee

A Northern Saw-whet owl sleeps among pine trees in the Braddock Bay Wildlife Management Area despite sun shining on its face.
A Northern Saw-whet owl sleeps among pine trees in the Braddock Bay Wildlife Management Area despite sun shining on its face.

Placing birds into unfamiliar habitats increases competition for resources among species that previously would not have come into contact, and it signals concerning implications for the planet.

More: Hummingbirds are migrating now. When will we see them in New York?

What is happening with birds amid climate change?

A study by the non-profit environmental organization Audubon Society on how climate change will affect birds in New York says:

Highly and moderately vulnerable birds may lose more than half of their current range — the geographic area where they live — as they are forced to search for suitable habitat and climate conditions elsewhere.

Robert Bell is a multimedia journalist and reporter at The Democrat & Chronicle. He was born in Rochester, grew up in Philadelphia and studied film in Los Angeles. Follow him at @byrobbell on X and @byrobbell on IG. Contact him at rlbell@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: 'Devil bird' among 'rare' bird sightings in New York. Here are others