TORONTO — A peacock has flown the coop and is on the loose in Toronto, flying from rooftop to rooftop.
The bird escaped High Park Zoo some time in the last day or two, according to Toronto Animal Services.
Iain McCauley was walking to work near High Park when he saw a big, blue bird sprinting down the street. He said he looked at his neighbour, back to the bird and then back to his neighbour.
"Yeah, it's a peacock," his neighbour said.
McCauley said another man crouched nearby, trying to corral the bird.
"He wanted to get it in a backyard, for some reason," McCauley said. "Then it flew up to the rooftop, which was crazy — I didn't know they could fly."
But McCauley, who is a teacher, said he had to get to class, so he snapped a few photos, posted one on Twitter, and went on his way.
Others flocked to Twitter to follow the bird, which by Monday morning had its own account.
"Just going for a stroll," @Torontopeacock tweeted at 10 a.m.
"Oh relax, your green bins are safe. I don't eat garbage," read another tweet posted shortly after.
Tammy Robbinson, a spokeswoman with Toronto Animal services, said residents shouldn't try to capture the bird, but should call 3-1-1 to have a specialist come out to help.
The city's parks department is in charge of the investigation, she said.
The bird was last seen in the city's west end.