MYNORTHWEST NEWS

Tropical bird escapes exhibit at Seattle’s Woodland Park Zoo

Jun 26, 2019, 6:32 AM | Updated: 8:06 am

paradise tanager...

If you spot a bird like the one pictured here, please contact the Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle ASAP. (Photo courtesy Woodland Park Zoo)

(Photo courtesy Woodland Park Zoo)

Like the opening scene of a DreamWorks movie, a tropical bird has escaped from its exhibit at the Woodland Park Zoo.

A small Paradise Tanager, whose wild relatives live in the Amazon basin of South America, flew out of the Tropical Rain Forest Aviary. The zoo says it likely slipped through a door left open by a visitor for too long while exiting.

The zoo crew hasn’t been to able to locate the little flyer, but appreciates extra eyes in the community. If you think you’ve spotted the tanager, please email the zoo at zooinfo@zoo.org.

According to the zoo and The Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Paradise Tanagers have a black body and beak. Their faces are a lime green color. They have a bright blue chest and a red and yellow rump.

Native Paradise Tanagers spend their time in the upper canopy foraging for fruit and insects and nest in the outer edges of the canopy, according to the C.L.O.

If you’re determined to find the zoo’s escape artist, dawn might be your best bet. The Paradise Tanager has a dawn song, which is a repeated chak-zeet every two seconds, according to the C.L.O. Listen here. Three normal calls are a sharp chak, a zeee, and a sizit.

Please follow our Community Guidelines

MyNorthwest News

USDOT Bellingham roads...

KIRO 7 News Staff

USDOT awards over $7 million to Bellingham, Swinomish, Island County to improve road conditions

The USDOT announced Friday they have secured over $7 million to help road conditions in Bellingham, the Swinomish Tribe, and Island County area.

46 minutes ago

Longview paper mill...

MyNorthwest Staff

Longview paper mill fined $77,800 after worker nearly engulfed in hot pulp

The Nippon Dynawave paper mill in Longview faces $77,800 in state fines after a worker waded through hot pulp to shut off a valve and fell into a sinkhole.

1 hour ago

Thurston County police chase...

KIRO 7 News Staff

Wanted suspect in custody after police activity closes I-5 lanes near Lewis-Thurston County line

A wanted suspect is in custody after leading Washington State Patrol (WSP) and Thurston County deputies on a chase “back and forth” over the Thurston County and Lewis County line Sunday, Nov. 1.

3 hours ago

CID Wing Luke Museum house restoration...

KIRO 7 News Staff

Eng family home restored by museum offers glimpse into 1930s life in CID

A family in the Chinatown International District (CID) donated their home to the Wing Luke Museum, which carefully restored it and opened it for tours.

3 hours ago

I-5 Express Lanes remain northbound...

Chris Sullivan

I-5 express lanes reopen southbound after delays caused by signals issue

Even though Revive I-5 finished-up Sunday night and all lanes of northbound I-5 across the Ship Canal Bridge opened earlier than expected, the express lanes did not return to normal.

3 hours ago

Bear Creek Trail...

James Lynch

$50,000 reward offered as investigators seek footage in Bear Creek Trail stabbing

Crime Stoppers of Puget Sound is asking the public for information about the stabbing of a 57-year-old woman on Redmond’s Bear Creek Trail.

4 hours ago

Tropical bird escapes exhibit at Seattle’s Woodland Park Zoo