Don't be surprised if there's a random traffic jam headed to Greenwich, NY. Birdwatchers from across the country are making their way to the small upstate town for a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

While New York State is full of its own impressive wildlife (have you seen a mink or a black bear with your own eyes?), the current animal in question is in a category of its own, since it actually belongs thousands and thousands of miles away.

This bird might be common in Europe, but it may have never been seen before in New York (Canva)
This bird might be common in Europe, but it may have never been seen before in New York (Canva)
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The Taiga Bean-Goose Spotted in Greenwich, NY

While it's mostly devoted birdwatchers who are causing all the commotion (one woman reported local children being thoroughly unimpressed), the fact that the bird, called the Taiga Bean-Goose, appeared in upstate New York should astonish anybody. here's why:

Rare Bird Alert in Upstate New York

In what Cornell University calls a "rare bird alert", the sightings are mostly remarkable due to the fact that the Taiga Bean-Goose is native to Siberia, an area more than 5,000 miles away. While other (and closer) parts of Europe regularly see the bird, the New York sighting may be the first of its kind in the United States. 

Other Rare Bird Sightings in New York

This isn't the first birdwatcher freakout of 2025. Recently, a rare snowy owl sighting was reported in New York State. While snowy owls are more at home in the arctic, making sightings uncommon, the appearance was far more likely than that of the Taiga Bean-Goose.

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Cornell University has reported sightings of the bird in several locations, with the most recent confirmed sighting on January 15th on the Batten Kill River in Greenwich, NY. Enthusiasts looking to catch a glimpse may want to hurry before the rare goose takes flight.

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