Rare falcated duck wows bird watchers in California A male
falcated duck -- an extremely rare sight in the United States --
is making an unusual appearance in California, drawing bird
watchers to the Colusa National Wildlife Refuge north of
Sacramento. The bird, which is common in China, was first
spotted Dec. 8 and has since attracted thousands of avid birders
hoping to catch a glimpse of the nomadic teal. "We have had
people fly in from Florida and Canada," Brandee Bethard, an
intern at the refuge, told the Sacramento Bee. "It is very rare
here." The term "falcated" refers to the duck's wing feathers,
which are curved and taper to its tail. A falcated duck was
spotted in Orange County in 1969 and Lassen County in 2002 and
2003, the Bee said, citing bird-watching blogs. The San
Francisco Chronicle reported that the bird may soon leave the
refuge for a new spot due to winter storms expected to pass
through the area this week. "If you want to see it, you better
come this week," Mike Peters, manager for the Col