Ashley May USA TODAY
Published 9:33 AM EDT Nov 1, 2018
A duck native to East Asia is making a splash in New York City's Central Park, partly because of the bird's stunning colors and also because no one knows how the bird got there.
The Mandarin duck was spotted as early as Oct. 10, according to a Twitter account that documents bird sightings at the park. Then, the exotic bird flew away and no one knew where it went for almost two weeks, David Barrett, the creator and manager of Manhattan Bird Alert, told The New York Times. To photographers' delight, it was spotted back on Oct. 25.
Since then, the duck has attracted a large fan base and a small band of paparazzi.
The new pond celebrity is easy to spot with a green and purple mohawk, sail-like feathers and purple chest.
Citing what appears to be a band around the bird's leg, Paul Sweet, collection manager in the Department of Ornithology at the American Museum of Natural History, told Gothamist it likely escaped from a private collection or zoo. But, no local zoos have reported an escape. It's also illegal for anyone to keep a duck as a domestic pet in New York City.
Why social media is obsessed with this 'rock star' duck
By George PierpointBBC News
Celebrity spotters in New York City, have a new star in their sights: A multi-coloured duck.
The male mandarin duck - Aix galericulata - has found fame in the Big Apple after he appeared in Central Park.
His colourful plumage quickly earned him a keen following on social media.
It all started on 10 October, when a video of the colourful bird was shared on Twitter by Manhattan Bird Alert.
The city's bird-watching community rushed to catch a glimpse of the mysterious visitor.
The species is native to east Asia, and many speculated it has escaped from a "private owner".
The account suggested the arrival had dethroned the wood duck as the "prettiest duck in the park".
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