Verification of Unusual
Sight Record
For Utah
Rec. # 2015-42
| Common name: |
Ovenbird |
| Scientific name: | Seiurus aurocapilla |
| Date: | May 28, 2001 |
| Time: | Morning |
| Length of time observed: | 10 minutes |
| Number: | 1 |
| Age: | Adult |
| Sex: | Unsure |
| Location: | Negro Bill trail, Moab |
| County: | Grand County |
| Latilong: | |
| Elevation: | |
| Distance to bird: | 10 feet |
| Optical equipment: | 8x42 Leica binoculars |
| Weather: | Clear |
| Light Conditions: | Good |
| Description: Size of bird: | Warbler-sized |
| (Description:) Basic Shape: | Warbler |
| (Description:) Overall Pattern: | heavily spotted with distinctive orange head stripe |
| (Description:) Bill Type: | sharp, warbler-like |
|
(Description:)
Field Marks and Identifying Characteristics: |
The bird was seen and heard along a stream about 1/4 mile up the Negro Bill trail, a shady desert canyon whose trailhead is on highway 128, 3.2 miles north of highway 191. I heard the distinctive call several times in a leafy glade until I finally saw the bird. Its heavily spotted breast and orange head stripe were clearly seen. It was clearly not a thrush, given the very black color of its breast spots, its call, its orange head stripe, its smaller size, and its warbler behavior. It walked and hopped along low branches in the Ovenbird style that I've observed back east several times. It's unique call, too, is nothing like that of a thrush. |
| Song or call & method of delivery: | Classic Ovenbird call given several times. "Teacher, teacher, teacher..." |
| Behavior: | Hopping about along low branches in a leafy glade |
| Habitat: | leafy glade in a small canyon trail known as Negro Bill trail. |
| Similar
species and
how were they eliminated: |
Hermit and Swainson's Thrushes were eliminated because the bird had very black breast spots, its distinctive Ovenbird call, its orange head stripe, its smaller size, and its warbler behavior. |
| Previous
experience with this & similar species: |
Seen several times along the US eastern coast and a few times in Colorado along the Front Range. |
| References consulted: | Peterson bird vocalization CDs. |
| Description from: | Notes taken at the time of the sighting |
| Observer: | Richard Trinkner |
| Observer's address: | 1540 Hawthorne Ave |
| Observer's e-mail address: | ** |
| Other observers who independently identified this bird: | none |
| Date prepared: | November 28, 2015 |
| Additional material: | |
| Additional_Comments: | This is an historical sighting. I was prompted by the eBird staff to submit this sighting to the rare bird report. |