Verification of Unusual
Sight Record
For Utah
Rec. # 2010-29c
| Common name: |
Hepatic Tanager |
| Scientific name: | Piranga flava |
| Date: | 7-27-10 |
| Time: | 3:40 PM |
| Length of time observed: | 7 to 10 minutes |
| Number: | one |
| Age: | adult |
| Sex: | male |
| Location: | Lytle Ranch, peach tree in the orchard, South Western Utah |
| County: | Washington |
| Latilong: | |
| Elevation: | |
| Distance to bird: | 20 yards |
| Optical equipment: | Nikon 8X42 binoculars |
| Weather: | Clear, sunny |
| Light Conditions: | bright |
| Description: Size of bird: | 8" just smaller than the robin in the same tree |
| (Description:) Basic Shape: | similar to the Western Tanager in the same tree |
| (Description:) Overall Pattern: | |
| (Description:) Bill Type: | |
|
(Description:)
Field Marks and Identifying Characteristics: |
size similar to the Western Tanager in the same tree, the bright reddish orange color. |
| Song or call & method of delivery: | Didn't hear |
| Behavior: | Eating peaches. The peaches were large, and hanging below the foliage. All birds in the same tree were very visable. Other birds feasting on the peaches included a pair of Ladderback Woodpeckers, a pair of Western Tanagers, a Robin, House finches |
| Habitat: | Orchard, peach tree in a desert setting. An oasis. |
| Similar
species and
how were they eliminated: |
Looked in Sibley Guide to Western North America 2003 edition, observed the Western Tanager in the same tree. The bird stayed stationery long enough that the book could be consulted, the detailed description read and the bird looked at numerous time |
| Previous
experience with this & similar species: |
Have Western Tanagers in my Orderville vineyard. Have removed the Western Tanagers from the nets and held them in my hand, looked in the book to identify before releasing. First time for Hepatic Tanager. |
| References consulted: | Sibley Field Guide to Birds of Western North America. Also The Sibley Guide to Birds 2000 edition |
| Description from: | Notes taken at time of sighting |
| Observer: | Rbecca D Levanger |
| Observer's address: | P. O. Box 63 Orderville, Utah 84758 |
| Observer's e-mail address: | grapeville@@hotmail .com |
| Other observers who independently identified this bird: | Flora M Duncan, Esther Duncan, Richard L Deen, |
| Date prepared: | 7-28-10 |
| Additional material: | |
| Additional_Comments: |