Verification of Unusual Sight Record
For Utah
Rec. # 2006-10(R82)
(Transcribed by M. G. Moody)

Common name:

Philadelphia Vireo
Scientific name: Vireo philadelphicus
Date: May  4, 1982
Time: 10:30 a.m.
Length of time observed: 5 min
Number: one
Age: Adult ?
Sex:  
Location: 1360 2nd Ave, Salt Lake City, Utah
County: Salt Lake
Latilong:  
Elevation:  
Distance to bird: 15 - 20 ft.
Optical equipment: Bushnel 7x35 Binoculars
Weather: Clear, cool (45 - 50º)
Prior weather & number of days since change: Rain (cold front) & Cool previous day
Light Conditions: Sunny - Excellent
Description:        Size of bird:  
(Description:)       Basic Shape:  
(Description:)  Overall Pattern:  
(Description:)            Bill Type:  
(Description:)                              
Field Marks and
Identifying Characteristics:		 1. Small (I estimated 4 1-2") vireo shaped bird
2. No wing bars at all
3. fairly short bill, dark, thicker thatn warbler bill
4. Color 
    - Uniform grayish back & tail, maybe slightly olive
    - dark line through the eye
    - outstanding characteristic was a fairly bright yellow rump (under tail coverts) and
       yellowish belly
5. eye was dark, no obvious eye ring

The bird was in the sun and I watched it at eye level form a 2nd story window (open) of my house.  The startling characteristic was the yellow underneath which I saw very clearly a number of times.  The yellow was not unlike that depicted on p. 227 of the (unintel.) edition of Petersons Eastern Guide, with a little more yellow on the belly and a bit less on the upper chest (the one called "variation").

Variations from expected field marks: Upper breast light gray with only the faintest yellowish wash

Song or call & method of delivery: did not sing
Behavior: feeding among catkins in newly leafed-out box elder about 25 ft tall.  It was about 15 - 20 ft above ground, and quite active.
Habitat: Near U. of Utah Campus
Similar species and how
were they eliminated:		 Warbling Vireo - the bright yellow belly & rump.
Solitary Vireo - no wing bars at all
Gray Vireo - yellow underparts
Orange Crowned Warbler - much to gray above & no streaking on breast.
Tennessee Warbler - yellow rump.
Previous experience with
this & similar species:		 I have seen Warbling and Solitary Vireo´s recently, and other Philadelphia´s years ago in the East.
References consulted:  
Description from: Notes made at time of sighting
Observer: Sherwood Casjens
Observer's address: 1360 2nd Ave, Salt Lake City, Utah  84103
Observer's e-mail address:  
Other observers who independently identified this bird: None
Date prepared: May 4, 1982
Additional material:  
Additional comments: