Baikal Teal

Anas formosa. Male. This bird is so rare that most American birders thought he was extinct. He showed up at Gilbert Water Ranch a little over a year ago. When trying to find this bird, people asked me where he was, and I said, "Look for the photographers!" There were always plenty around and although he stayed out in the lake a ways, he didn't seem to mind. He stayed for about three weeks. I never could figure out why he needed to tie his hat on! They're named after the Baikal Lake in Russia, and "formosa" means "beautiful". They live in Siberia, and in other places like Viet Nam.