People flock to quiet Yorkshire street after rare bird blown off course by hurricane

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Bird enthusiasts rushed to a quiet neighborhood after an incredibly rare bird was seen in Yorkshire for the first time.

The bird is thought to be a scarlet tanager that ended up in Shelf, close to Halifax, after being pushed off its path by powerful winds from a hurricane in North America.

Typically, the bird travels twice a year between the forests of lowland South America and the eastern United States.

However, the uncommon scarlet tanager seems to have gotten lost and ended up on the peaceful street in Yorkshire, drawing in numerous birdwatchers from all over the UK.

The American Bird Conservancy notes that the bird's call is commonly likened to the sound of a "robin with a cold."

According to the All About Birds website from Cornell University, female and young birds have a yellowish-green appearance, while adult males in breeding plumage display a vibrant red body with black wings and tails.

Website Bird Guides mentioned on X that this sighting is thought to be the first ever recorded in Yorkshire.

"The first-winter male scarlet tanager, which has never been spotted in Yorkshire before, marks only the eighth sighting in Britain and is the first recorded since 2014," it stated.

The birds possess sturdy, rounded beaks that help them capture insects and consume fruit.

A birdwatcher who traveled from London expressed that the experience of seeing the bird was "thrilling."

Another person, Luke Nash, who traveled from Durham, shared with the BBC: “I had my doubts when I learned it would be here. I was taking my time, fiddling with my camera and checking my phone when someone suddenly called out that it was approaching. At that point, I quickly took my camera out of the bag and lifted my binoculars.”