Verification of Unusual Sight Record
For Utah

Rec. # 2003-19


Common name:

Painted Redstart

Scientific name: Myioborus pictus
Date: 5/4/03
Time: Midday
Length of time observed: ~ 10 minutes
Number: 1
Age: Adult
Sex: ?
Location: Zion National Park, ~0.5 mile north of Temple of Sinawava (Riverside Walk)
County: ? [Washington]
Latilong: ?
Elevation: ~4400 feet
Distance to bird: ~50 feet
Optical equipment: Bausch & Lomb Elite 10x40 binoculars
Weather: Partly cloudy
Light Conditions: Good light on bird
Detailed description of bird: General impression of a warbler based on size and shape. Black hood, upperparts, and wings. Thin white crescents below eyes (but not above). Thin black bill. Bright red belly. Whitish undertail coverts. Large white patches on upperwing coverts. Underside of tail white. Upperside of tail black. Legs dark.
(see photo)
Song or call & method of delivery: Song 2-3 parted. Unfamiliar to me but clearly sounded like a warbler song based on my experience with the common warblers of California. The song is what first drew my attention to the bird (expecting to see a warbler).
Behavior: Mostly perched in one place while it sang. At one point it moved around, hopping along branches and moving tail from side to side with each hop (tail not spread).
Habitat: In underside of canopy of cottonwood tree near trail. Tree was in narrow canyon with cliffs for sides and a river running through it.
Similar species and
how were they eliminated:
This is a pretty unmistakable species based on the black hood, red belly, white wing patch, white in tail, and
white crescent under eye. These features eliminate American Redstart and Slate-throated Redstart (which lacks white wing patch and white crescent under eye).
Previous experience with this & similar species: I have limited experience with this species in Mexico along with Slate-throated Redstart. I've seen several American Redstarts in California.
References consulted: The Sibley Guide to Birds. National Geographic Birds of North America.
Description from: Notes made later
Observer: Alan Wight and Shelly Hernandez
Observer's address: 1940 Bristol St., Petaluma, CA 94954
Observer's e-mail address: shwand@sonic.net
Other observers who independently identified
this bird:
None
Date prepared: 6/4/03  (General Public)
Additional material: Photo
Additional comments: I hiked past this location a second time on 5/4/03 and then twice more on 5/7/03 and did not see the bird again.