A capercaillie has been roaming around central Överkalix for several weeks, surprising residents. A local photographer captured the bird on camera as a bird expert offers possible explanations for the unusual urban visit.

A Grays Harbor resident who was hospitalized with influenza symptoms in early November has been confirmed to have influenza A H5, a type of avian influenza. Additional testing shows the virus to be H5N5, an avian influenza virus that has previously been reported in animals but never before in humans. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and DOH currently consider the risk to the public from avian influenza to be low.

An avian influenza outbreak in Skåne has devastated a poultry farm, with over 55,000 geese, turkeys, and chickens lost. Sweden’s veterinary institute warns of an unusually early, severe season, with much of southern Sweden designated high-risk.

A mourning dove—rare for Alaska’s Seward Peninsula—was spotted in Nome shortly after strong fall storms, likely having been displaced during migration. The bird has continued foraging locally, marking an unusual range occurrence for the region.

A rare inland sighting of a white-winged scoter was recorded along the Columbia River near Pasco, Washington, with a birder photographing the sea duck at McNary National Wildlife Refuge on Oct. 26. Biologists say a recent storm may have blown the typically coastal species off course.

In Novy Urengoy, authorities and volunteers began rescuing a flock of ducks that failed to migrate before freezing weather, after the birds lingered on Lake Molodezhny. Locals also recalled a recently rescued mute swan now recovering en route to a rehabilitation center in Tyumen Oblast.

A Cattle Egret was spotted west of Ólafsvíkurenni on Iceland’s Snæfellsnes peninsula, a very rare occurrence. A bird expert links increasing appearances of southern species in Iceland to climate change.

A rare black stork that strayed to Tornio, Finland, was found emaciated, taken into care, and moved to a bird rehabilitation center in Oulu. Its recovery is expected to take at least two weeks while experts consider how and where to release it.

Human disturbances, such as off-leash dogs and increased tourism, are causing a decline in shorebird populations at the Victoria Harbour Migratory Bird Sanctuary, disrupting their critical stopover habitat and reflecting broader global biodiversity challenges.

High-pathogenic avian influenza was confirmed on 4 September at an egg farm in Hadsel, Nordland, Norway, with 7,500 laying hens to be culled. Authorities established 3 km and 10 km control zones; human infection risk is assessed as very low.