Verification of Unusual
Sight Record
For Utah
Rec. # 2003-11
| Common name: |
Red-throated Loon |
| Scientific name: | Gavia stellata |
| Date: | 22 Apr 2003 |
| Time: | ~9:30 AM |
| Length of time observed: | 15 min. |
| Number: | 1 |
| Age: | 1st summer |
| Sex: | |
| Location: | Hyrum Reservoir beach area |
| County: | Cache |
| Latilong: | |
| Elevation: | ~5400 |
| Distance to bird: | 150 yards |
| Optical equipment: | 20-60X Kowa Scope |
| Weather: | Clear |
| Light Conditions: | slightly overcast |
| Detailed description of bird: | This loon-shaped bird had a low-contrast head which was darker on top and down the back of the neck and had a broad light area under the chin and upper throat going back along the side of the neck and lower part of the head. This light area in the upper front of the neck became more gray towards the back. The forehead was very flat compared to other loons and rounded up to the top of the head. The back was a very plan light gray color and showed little spotting or contrast. The bill was short and very narrow for a loon and was slightly up-pointed relative to the head. The tip of the bill was beveled slight upward. [See photos] |
| Song or call & method of delivery: | none |
| Behavior: | floating in reservoir |
| Habitat: | reservoir |
| Similar
species and how were they eliminated: |
Pacific & Arctic Loons: The line between the side and back of the neck was
much more indistinct and further back than you would expect on a Pacific or
Arctic Loons. Also this line showed no signs of projecting forward at the
throat area. The forehead was flatter and the bill was more up-turned than
in either of these two species. Common Loons: The small bill and the rounded head was markedly different than the Common Loons (about thirty of them) which were also in the reservoir. The neck showed not signs of a horizontal neck mark characteristic of the Common Loon and the back show very little patterning. Yellow-billed Loon: The bill was much smaller and darker; the size of the bird was much smaller (comparing with the nearby Western Grebes) than would be the case with a Yellow-billed Loon. The back and throat areas showed much less patterning and contract. |
| Previous experience with this & similar species: | This is the first time I've seen this species, but I have seen the Arctic, Pacific and Common Loons before. |
| References consulted: | The Sibley Guide to Birds |
| Description from: | Notes made later |
| Observer: | Milton Moody |
| Observer's address: | 2795 Indian Hills Drive, Provo UT 84604 |
| Observer's e-mail address: | miltonmoody@yahoo.com |
| Other
observers who independently identified this bird: |
Dennis Shirley and Bryan Shirley |
| Date prepared: | 6 May 2003 |
| Additional material: | Photos |
| Additional comments: |