Sighting Record for Utah

Common name:	Rusty Blackbird
Scientific name:	Euphagus carolinus
Date:	December 14, 2010
Time:	Appox. 1:30PM
Length of time observed:	10 minutes
Number:	1
Age:	adult
Sex:	male
Location:	Torrey
County:	Wayne
Latilong:
Elevation:
Distance to bird:	75 meters
Optical equipment:	10x42 binocs
Weather:	overcast
Light Conditions:	fairly bright
Description: Size of bird:
(Description:) Basic Shape:
(Description:) Overall Pattern:
(Description:) Bill Type:
(Description:) Field Marks and Identifying Characteristics:	A slim looking blackbird with brownish hood that extended down through the upper back. Rusty edges to the blackish tertials and coverts. Black rump. Broad buff Colored Supercillium and malar area. Mottled black and brown breast and belly. Thin,black, pointed bill slightly down-curved. Supralorals black. Eyes yellow. (see photos)
Song or call & method of delivery:	Typical blackbird chuck
Behavior:	The bird was feeding along the top of an algae mat covered marsh then run back into the stalks of the cattails. The bird would then work its way back out into the open, feed for a while then dash back into covering. It repeated this behavior several times while we were there.
Habitat:	Wetland marsh
Similar species and how were they eliminated:	Immature Brewer's lack rusty fringe on tertials, also bill is thicker less pointed than Rusty Blackbird
Previous experience with this & similar species:	yes
References consulted:	National Geographic
Description from:	From memory
Observer:	Terry Sadler
Observer's address:	887 Germania Ave, Murray Utah
Observer's e-mail address:	sadler@iveracity.com
Other observers who independently identified this bird:
Date prepared:	12-16-2010
Additional material:	Photos taken by Tyler Ward
Additional_Comments:	The bird was sighted during the Torrey Christmas Bird Count. I was leading a large group of 16 novice birders and all of them had a chance to observe the bird