In December, a rare Steller's sea eagle was spotted in Massachuestts, thousands of kilometres from its native land, which includes Russia and Japan.

Now, the bird has turned up in Maine, where it has been relaxing by the coast, eating fish and ducks, the Associated Press (AP) reports.

Worth the trip to Maine for this amazing bird. Steller's Sea Eagle pic.twitter.com/ILJQ5YTio5

Worth the trip to Maine for this amazing bird. Steller’s Sea Eagle Dave medd on Twitter: "Worth the trip to Maine for this amazing bird. Steller's Sea Eagle pic.twitter.com/ILJQ5YTio5 / Twitter"

— Dave medd (@Davemedd3) Dave medd on Twitter: "Worth the trip to Maine for this amazing bird. Steller's Sea Eagle pic.twitter.com/ILJQ5YTio5 / Twitter"

Birdwatchers and scientists have flocked to catch a glimpse of the eagle, which has global population of only a few thousand members.

Scientists aren't sure why it has flown so far off course. Speaking with AP, Maine Audubon staff naturalist Doug Hitchcox said the eagle has more than enough to eat, and the environment is similar to its usual surroundings so it doesn't appear to be in any danger.

Finally got my chance to spot the rare Steller's Sea Eagle that's been visiting Maine's coast, in Pemaquid 1/22/22 (blurry and partially obstructed, but hey what a sight) #stellersseaeagle pic.twitter.com/zjCH5b7zPO

Finally got my chance to spot the rare Steller’s Sea Eagle that’s been visiting Maine’s coast, in Pemaquid 1/22/22 (blurry and partially obstructed, but hey what a sight) Charles Skold 🏳️‍🌈 on Twitter: "Finally got my chance to spot the rare Steller's Sea Eagle that's been visiting Maine's coast, in Pemaquid 1/22/22 (blurry and partially obstructed, but hey what a sight) #stellersseaeagle pic.twitter.com/zjCH5b7zPO / Twitter" Charles Skold 🏳️‍🌈 on Twitter: "Finally got my chance to spot the rare Steller's Sea Eagle that's been visiting Maine's coast, in Pemaquid 1/22/22 (blurry and partially obstructed, but hey what a sight) #stellersseaeagle pic.twitter.com/zjCH5b7zPO / Twitter"

— Charles Skold 🏳️‍🌈 (@CharlesSkold) Charles Skold 🏳️‍🌈 on Twitter: "Finally got my chance to spot the rare Steller's Sea Eagle that's been visiting Maine's coast, in Pemaquid 1/22/22 (blurry and partially obstructed, but hey what a sight) #stellersseaeagle pic.twitter.com/zjCH5b7zPO / Twitter"

“This one is so far off course, it’s just purely speculation to say it could go back [to its native habitat] and then return. There is no reason it couldn’t make its way back to Japan or Russia,” Wilcox told the outlet.

“It seems to be doing OK.”

While unusual, AP says it isn't out of the ordinary for birds to make return visits to locales far away from their usual range.

Steller's sea eagle, 1/23 in Boothbay Harbor, Maine pic.twitter.com/2hdiKYQ0PN

Steller’s sea eagle, 1/23 in Boothbay Harbor, Maine Molly מַלְכָּה Cohn on Twitter: "Steller's sea eagle, 1/23 in Boothbay Harbor, Maine pic.twitter.com/2hdiKYQ0PN / Twitter"

— Molly מַלְכָּה Cohn (@MollyCohn) Molly מַלְכָּה Cohn on Twitter: "Steller's sea eagle, 1/23 in Boothbay Harbor, Maine pic.twitter.com/2hdiKYQ0PN / Twitter"

With a wingspan of up to 2.4 metres and weighing up to 9 kilograms, Steller's are one of the world's tallest eagles.