Verification of Unusual
Sight Record
For Utah
Rec. # 2003-12
| Common name: |
Eastern Phoebe |
| Scientific name: | Sayornis phoebe |
| Date: | 5/7/03 |
| Time: | 4:00 p.m. |
| Length of time observed: | 8 minutes |
| Number: | 1 |
| Age: | Adult |
| Sex: | sexes similar |
| Location: |
Jordan River Parkway at 840 South (Genese Ave.) |
| County: | Salt Lake |
| Latilong: | ? |
| Elevation: | ? |
| Distance to bird: | 30 fee |
| Optical equipment: | Swarovski Binoculars EL 10 x 42, Kowa TSN-822M Spotting Scope with 32 x. |
| Weather: | Cloudy |
| Light Conditions: | good |
| Detailed description of bird: | The bird was a flycatcher with a dark head and white throat. These two features contrasted well and were obvious. The bird had some grayish feathering on the middle of its breast, but on its belly, the feathering was white. The back and neck were uniform gray. The bill was completely black and the bird had no eyering. The bird also lacked wingbars. |
| Song or call & method of delivery: | silent |
| Behavior: | The bird was flycatching from different perches and was repeatedly dipping its tail - a phoebe characteristic. |
| Habitat: | Riparian: Russian Olive, Willows, Cottonwoods next to the Jordan River |
| Similar
species and how were they eliminated: |
Empidonax Flycatchers were eliminated because this bird had no wingbars or
eyering.Gray Flycatcher also dips its tail, but it has wingbars and an eyering
as well as light colored head and the base of its bill is orangish - All physical characteristics this bird was lacking. Western Wood-Pewee was eliminated because this bird had the "dipping tail" behavior which the Pewee doesn't. This bird had a white throat contrasted with a very dark head while a pewee's throat and head are the same. Also, a pewee has some visible wingbars and this bird didn't. |
| Previous experience with this & similar species: |
I've seen them in Texas, Missouri, New York, and New Jersey. |
| References consulted: |
The Sibley Guide to Birds National Geographic Field guide to the Birds of North America |
| Description from: | From memory |
| Observer: |
Ed Conrad |
| Observer's address: | 5871 South Holstein Way Murray, UT 84107 |
| Observer's e-mail address: | ecc0602@westminstercollege.edu |
| Other
observers who independently identified this bird: |
none |
| Date prepared: | 5/7/03 (General Public) |
| Additional material: | |
| Additional comments: |