Verification of Unusual
Sight Record
For Utah
Rec. # 2006-24b
| Common name: |
Glossy Ibis |
| Scientific name: | Plegadis falcinellus |
| Date: | 6/18/06 |
| Time: | 8:10 p.m. |
| Length of time observed: | 10 minutes |
| Number: | 1 |
| Age: | Adult |
| Sex: | Unknown |
| Location: | Benson, UT--about 1/2 mile west of 3200 West on 3000 North |
| County: | Cache |
| Latilong: | |
| Elevation: | |
| Distance to bird: | 25 yards |
| Optical equipment: | Pentax 8x42 and Pentax 10x42 binoculars, Bausch & Lomb Zoom Scope |
| Weather: | Clear and Sunny |
| Light Conditions: | Bright, good light (enhanced by the angle of the evening sun) |
| Description: Size of bird: | Similar to nearby white-faced ibises |
| (Description:) Basic Shape: | Similar to nearby white-faced ibises |
| (Description:) Overall Pattern: | |
| (Description:) Bill Type: | |
|
(Description:)
Field Marks and Identifying Characteristics: |
Long medium gray legs with pinkish red at and surrounding the knee joints. Reddish brown body and neck with some irridescent highlights. Head was same color tone, but darker. Wings were very irridescent with mostly dark green but some dark purple highlights. Long, thick and decurved bill, brownish in color. Facial skin in front of eye was dark brown, and outlined narrowly in a very, very pale blue. The eye was very dark brown or black. |
| Song or call & method of delivery: |
Not heard |
| Behavior: | The bird was feeding in a damp, grassy field with at least 125 (probably more) white-faced ibises. The entire flock was flying back and forth between two fields fairly close together along the south side of 3000 North. |
| Habitat: | Damp, grassy field |
| Similar
species and
how were they eliminated: |
White-faced ibis has reddish legs, red eye, and reddish facial skin bordered with white. |
| Previous
experience with this & similar species: |
We've seen Glossy Ibises a few times in Florida. We regularly see White-faced Ibises every year in Utah. |
| References consulted: | Sibley; National Geographic |
| Description from: | Notes made later |
| Observer: | Joel and Kathy Beyer |
| Observer's address: |
1719 Hillcrest Avenue, Salt Lake CIty, UT 84106 |
| Observer's e-mail address: | twobirders@juno.com |
| Other observers who independently identified this bird: | Ron Ryel, Melanie Spriggs, and Keith and Judy Archibald all saw a probable Glossy Ibis in this same area about two weeks earlier. |
| Date prepared: | 7/24/06 |
| Additional material: | |
| Additional comments: |