Home / Environment / Rare Seabird Makes Unprecedented Ohio Appearance
Rare Seabird Makes Unprecedented Ohio Appearance
3 Jun
Summary
- A lesser frigatebird, native to distant oceans, was spotted in Ohio.
- This marks the first sighting of this rare species in Ohio.
- The bird was seen at Sippo Lake near Canton and Massillon.
A lesser frigatebird, a species rarely seen in the United States and native to the Pacific and Indian Oceans, was recently sighted in Ohio. The bird was observed on May 23 at Sippo Lake, located between Canton and Massillon in Stark County. It remained in the vicinity for several hours before disappearing the following morning. This marks the first recorded instance of a lesser frigatebird in Ohio. Records indicate this species has only been spotted a handful of times across the U.S., with the last sighting this far east occurring in 1960. Lesser frigatebirds are the smallest of their species, with distinctive markings on adult males and females. They typically inhabit tropical and subtropical waters far from Ohio's location.
