Verification of Unusual
Sight Record
For Utah
Rec. # 2005-38(R83)
1983 sighting resubmitted in October 2005
Information for this record is taken from
a UFO sight record received 21 Jun 1983.
| Common name: |
Broad-winged Hawk |
| Scientific name: | Buteo platypterus |
| Date: | 14 May 1983 |
| Time: | 6:15 AM |
| Length of time observed: | 1 min |
| Number: | 1 |
| Age: | Adult |
| Sex: | |
| Location: | Willow Park, Logan |
| County: | Cache |
| Latilong: | |
| Elevation: | |
| Distance to bird: | 25 m |
| Optical equipment: | 10x Binocs |
| Weather: | Partly cloudy - sun not yet up but still quite light. Prior weather: Front in previous evening |
| Light Conditions: | good |
| Description: Size of bird: | |
| (Description:) Basic Shape: | |
| (Description:) Overall Pattern: | |
| (Description:) Bill Type: | |
|
(Description:)
Field Marks and Identifying Characteristics: |
I heard a scolding of Brewer's Blackbirds and looked up to see a small Buteo fly in and land in a tree. The bird was all light below except for a broad dark terminal border to the wings. The wings were broad but distinctly pointed in the middle (see fig. 1). As it landed, it fanned its tail and showed 2 broad white bands (upper surface) and 2 broad black bands (see Fig 2). It sat for a moment, then flew showing a flash of reddish from the breast. It called once - a thin "teeee" |
| Song or call & method of delivery: | Voice - thin, high-pitched "teeee" |
| Behavior: | |
| Habitat: | |
| Similar
species and
how were they eliminated: |
No other Utah raptor has a boldly black & white tail pattern except Red-shouldered Hawk which has several narrow white bands, and is much darker reddish underneath & has dark gray * white bars on under side of flight feathers. Gray Hawk has a white rump & 3 white bars on tail. |
| Previous
experience with this & similar species: |
Very extensive (I've seen thousands upon thousands - my 5th sighting in Utah!) |
| References consulted: | |
| Description from: | Notes made later from memory |
| Observer: | Mike Tove |
| Observer's address: | 132 W. 730 N., Logan, UT 84321 Phone: 753-0281 |
| Observer's e-mail address: | |
| Other observers who independently identified this bird: | Keith Archibald 752-8258 |
| Date prepared: | [Received 21 Jun 1983] |
| Additional material: | |
| Additional comments: |