Verification of Unusual
Sight Record
For Utah
Rec. # 2011-33
| Common name: |
Dickcissel |
| Scientific name: | Spiza americana |
| Date: | June 26, 2011 |
| Time: | 11:30 am |
| Length of time observed: | 2 hours at first observance; 8 hours throughout day |
| Number: | 1 |
| Age: | unknown; first year male |
| Sex: | male |
| Location: | Fox Hunter Drive, Farmington, UT |
| County: | Davis |
| Latilong: | unknown |
| Elevation: | unknown |
| Distance to bird: | 25 feet |
| Optical equipment: | Scope, 10x32 binoculars, Canon 50d camera |
| Weather: | sunny |
| Light Conditions: | excellent |
| Description: Size of bird: | small to mid sized sparrow like |
| (Description:) Basic Shape: | sparrow like |
| (Description:) Overall Pattern: | fresh, first year coloring, black spot on breast and yellow coloring seemed incomplete like a first year bird |
| (Description:) Bill Type: | thick, finch like |
|
(Description:)
Field Marks and Identifying Characteristics: |
Small bird in comparison to other birds in the same field of view (red-winged
Blackbird, Western Kingbird, American Robin). Head was flat to rounded. Very
sparrow like appearance. Beak large and bulky for the size of the bird. Beak
finch like in shape. Breast was light yellow. Throat white directly under the
beak with a black spot under the white which contrasts with the yellow breast.
red/chestnut shoulder patch. Stripe over the eye yellow. Eye black. Back a dull
gray brown. Lower chest dusky white. (see photo) |
| Song or call & method of delivery: | Song was the first indicator. Three notes were typical. Chup--Chup Chup. |
| Behavior: | Sat just below the weed height line and sang. Responded once to tape of its song (Peterson Field Guides Western Bird Songs disc 2 track 44) by flying over head and landing on my roof top. |
| Habitat: | Open field, meadow. Tall weeds and thistle. |
| Similar
species and
how were they eliminated: |
Western Meadowlark--Size first indication. This bird appeared much smaller. Song was the second indication. We have singing meadowlarks at this location and song was clearly not melodic like the Western meadowlark. Beak was the third indication. Beak was heavy and thick especially for the size of the bird. Meadowlark beak much more pointed and thin in comparison to size. |
| Previous
experience with this & similar species: |
I have seen this species in migration in Texas and Arizona. Otherwise I have no other experience. I have never seen the bird in breeding. The bird called for about three days prior from a distance and I did not recognize it until I saw the bird. |
| References consulted: | Peterson Field Guide to Birds of North America to confirm sighting. Peterson Field Guides to Western Bird Songs to confirm song. |
| Description from: | From memory |
| Observer: | Tony G Jones |
| Observer's address: | 817 North Foxhunter Drive, Farmington, UT 84025 |
| Observer's e-mail address: | landseer_tj@hotmail.com |
| Other observers who independently identified this bird: | Other birdwatchers came throughout the day and appeared to observe the bird. |
| Date prepared: | 6/26/2011 |
| Additional material: | Photo |
| Additional_Comments: |