Extremely rare bird spotted on Cape Cod for first time

BREWSTER, Mass. — A scientist recently captured photographs of an extremely rare bird that has never before been seen on Cape Cod.

Mark Faherty says he was shocked to have stumbled upon a Vermilion Flycatcher in Brewster on Friday because the closest population of this particular bird is believed to be in Arizona or Texas. He noted that it may have also originated from Venezuela.

In describing the brightly colored visitor on capeandislands.org, Faherty wrote, “This species had only been recorded three times in Massachusetts, with those records spread out between 1954 and 2017.”

The Flycatcher’s presence has attracted many bird enthusiasts to the area who are hoping to get a glimpse of the spectacle.

“Since I found it on Friday, I suspect a few hundred folks from multiple states have been to Brewster to see it, some multiple times, likely causing a one-bird spike in the shoulder season economy,” Faherty stated in his piece.

Faherty described the bird in his photos as a “truly stunning” male with the “red plumage of an adult, though more orangey and less intense.”

The bird will likely stick around for a while, but Faherty recommended that enthusiasts seek it out sooner rather than later.

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