Verification of Unusual
Sight Record
For Utah
Rec. # 2010-29b
| Common name: |
Hepatic Tanager |
| Scientific name: | Piranga flava |
| Date: | July 27, 2010 |
| Time: | 3:40 |
| Length of time observed: | 5 - 10 minutes |
| Number: | 1 |
| Age: | Adult |
| Sex: | Male |
| Location: | Lytle Ranch |
| County: | Washington |
| Latilong: |
20 yds |
| Elevation: | |
| Distance to bird: | |
| Optical equipment: | binoculars 10 X 42 |
| Weather: | hot, and sunny |
| Light Conditions: | full sun afternoon light - not backlit |
| Description: Size of bird: | little smaller than a robin |
| (Description:) Basic Shape: | mocking bird shape |
| (Description:) Overall Pattern: | red / orange |
| (Description:) Bill Type: | regular - like a robin |
|
(Description:)
Field Marks and Identifying Characteristics: |
Red orange bird a little smaller than a robin. Regular shaped bill. The most distinguishing feature for me was the red and gray contrast. The back, wing and flank of the bird were gray in color |
| Song or call & method of delivery: | |
| Behavior: | perched in tree, eating a peach |
| Habitat: | Mohave desert - by Beaver Dam wash - in a fruit orchard |
| Similar
species and
how were they eliminated: |
4 large red birds - cardinal, scarlet tanager, summer tanager, and hepatic tanager. Not a cardinal - no crest, wrong bill shape. Not a scarlet tanager- no black wings. Not a summer tanager - wings weren't red enough,no crest. I carry a Sibley's (North America). I opened the book to the tanager page 462-463. Four tanagers on the same page - matched the Hepatic tanager with the gray on the back,wing, and flank. |
| Previous
experience with this & similar species: |
Saw a scarlet tanager at Crex Meadows in Wisconsin. Saw a summer tanager in the Grand Canyon (Havasupi). |
| References consulted: | The Sibley Guide to Birds - 2000 |
| Description from: | Notes taken at time of sighting |
| Observer: | Esther Duncan |
| Observer's address: | 270 N 455 E Delta, Utah 84624 |
| Observer's e-mail address: | duncane@frontiernet.net |
| Other observers who independently identified this bird: | Richard and Edie Deen, Flora Duncan, Becky Levanger |
| Date prepared: | July 28, 2010 |
| Additional material: | Trying to gat a copy of photo from Richard Deen |
| Additional_Comments: | Exciting to see this bird. |