ST. LAWRENCE, NEWFOUNDLAND (CNN) -- The White-Breasted Nuthatch is a common North American bird found in much of Canada. But, no one's EVER seen one in Newfoundland, until now.
The White-Breasted Nuthatch is a star with his own paparazzi. Bird watchers have been dropping in from all over to catch a glimpse or get a shot of him. He's no big deal if you live on the mainland but a huge deal for Newfoundland. He's the first one spotted in the province. Bruce Mactavish says, "From the point of view of a bird we've seen before, it's mildly exciting but the fact that it's in Newfoundland makes it very exciting because it's probably never going to happen again."
It is very unusual to find this Nuthatch here because they are not migratory birds. Normally they stay put in their forest habitat. The bird experts are not sure where he's from but he's a long way from home. Mactavishs says, "It could have come from somewhere in the US East Coast, once it got caught up in a southwest wind, you know, once it got off shore just kept going with the wind and first landing was St. Lawrence."
So far 10 bird enthusiasts have driven for several hours to check him out for themselves even though he's been well documented. Gail Wilson says, "There's a group of bird watchers in Newfoundland that sort of keep a list of birds that they've seen in Newfoundland and this is a bird that was going to be in addition to all of our lists, so to get it on your own list you have to see it yourself."
Just a little bird but a big star in this neck of the woods. "We've had quite a few people which is very interesting really because we don't get many birders down here on the Burin Peninsula."
Will he stick around or will he migrate back home in the spring? Time will tell.