Zoo reports rare captive birth of Asian bird

It's called a white-crested laughing thrush and it's bringing smiles to zookeepers in Syracuse.

The Rosamond Gifford Zoo greeted a new bird March 7. The chick is named Zephyr.

The birth came as a surprise to zookeepers, who have had no success breeding white-crested laughing thrushes. Zoo officials say the chick is one of only three born in captivity in the U.S. over the last year.

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The birds are commonplace in Southeast Asia, South China and East India and were once widely imported into the U.S., but avian influenza worries forced zoos to stop importation.

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White-crested laughing thrushes are cooperative breeders, so the zoo's three adult birds are helping feed the newborn.

That's right: Zephyr has three parents. It's still a mystery just which ones are mom and dad.