Northern Wheatear

One of these birds, a Northern Wheatear, a close relative of the American Robin, is seen in Pennsylvania about once every ten or fifteen years. They're common in the arctic and occasionally an adventurous individual will wander down along the east coast from Greenland.

Northern Wheatear (photo by Geoff Malosh)

This one was found this week behind a Days Inn hotel in northern Lebanon county in Pennsylvania. A local resident said it'd been hanging around for several weeks, but until a birder from South Carolina who was staying at the hotel happened to spot it in the parking lot no one but the locals knew about it. Since the word got out, though, people have been coming from all over in a steady stream to see it.

It doesn't look particularly special because it's a juvenile and not yet in adult plumage. It's noteworthy because it's so rare.