Verification of Unusual
Sight Record
For Utah
Rec. # 2002-28
| Common name: |
White-tailed Kite |
| Scientific name: | Elanus leucurus |
| Date: | 7/12/02 |
| Time: | 11:30 am |
| Length of time observed: | 8 minutes |
| Number: | 1 |
| Age: | Adult |
| Sex: | ? |
| Location: | Locomotive Springs WMA |
| County: | Box Elder |
| Latilong: | 41.6978ºN 112.9773ºW |
| Elevation: | 4210 FT? |
| Distance to bird: | 30 yards at first in flight then 60 yards perched |
| Optical equipment: | Leopold spotting scope |
| Weather: | 100+ F, calm, no clouds |
| Light Conditions: | Bright and sunny |
| Detailed description of bird: | White color overall with gray mantle and dark lesser coverts. Large dark eye. Small, yellow and black, sharply down-curved beak. Yellow legs. 14-18 inches head to tail. |
| Song or call & method of delivery: | Short hawk-like squak when nervous |
| Behavior: |
Loafing on ground when first disturbed. It then flew off and perched in some
greasewood. |
| Habitat: |
Tall playa with greasewood. Springs, ponds and marshes in the nearby vicinity. |
| Similar
species and how were they eliminated: |
Thought it was a male Northern Harrier at first but much lighter in color with highly contrasting dark shoulders. Tail was white. No band as a harrier does. |
| Previous experience with this & similar species: | None with this species but I work as a seasonal for the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources doing bird surveys of shorebirds, waterfowl, gulls, and pisciferous species |
| References consulted: | The Sibley Guide to Birds |
| Description from: | From memory |
| Observer: | John Neill |
| Observer's address: | 2567 E Pringle Circle |
| Observer's e-mail address: | neilljc@yahoo.com |
| Other
observers who independently identified this bird: |
none |
| Date prepared: | 7/16/02 (General Public) |
| Additional material: | |
| Additional comments: | Very confident of correct indentification |