Experts say hurricanes may have blown birds off course
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A colourful North American bird blown thousands of miles off its migration course has been spotted in the Shetland Islands.
It is only the third sighting of the common yellowthroat in Scotland over the past 20 years.
The songbird, which has a black face and yellow underbelly, was spotted on the remote island of Foula.
RSPB Scotland said it had possibly been blown off course by hurricanes which recently ravaged the US coast.
Spokesman Adam Harper said: "This species winters in central or
southern American.
'Hardy trip'
"As this bird was heading south after the summer, it has been blown off course by several thousand miles.
"There has recently been quite a flurry of rare birds blown over and the thought behind it is it's been because of the storms."
Mr Harper said birds generally stayed for a few days before moving on.
He added: "Having endured a hardy trip over here, they manage to withstand the harsh Scottish climate.
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