Verification of Unusual
Sight Record
For Utah
Rec. # 2015-43
| Common name: |
Common Redpoll |
| Scientific name: | [Acanthis flammea] |
| Date: | 11/29/2015 |
| Time: | 10:30am |
| Length of time observed: | three hours |
| Number: | 13 |
| Age: | adult |
| Sex: | both |
| Location: | Jeremy Ranch Road |
| County: | Morgan |
| Latilong: | |
| Elevation: | |
| Distance to bird: | twenty feet or less |
| Optical equipment: | Nikon 10x42 Monarch Binoculars, Olympus camera with 70-300mm Camera |
| Weather: | partly cloudy |
| Light Conditions: | some sun at times |
| Description: Size of bird: | small finch |
| (Description:) Basic Shape: | Pine Siskin |
| (Description:) Overall Pattern: | White with gray streaks, yellow bill, red forhead, black face, dome had red wash on sides and breast |
| (Description:) Bill Type: | small seed cracking |
|
(Description:)
Field Marks and Identifying Characteristics: |
Birds were the size and shape of a Pine Siskin, with streaking on most of the
body, red on foreheads, yellow bills, black around bill extending back to eye,
some birds were darker than others. A couple of the birds were very light with
some red wash on breast and sides. (see photos) |
| Song or call & method of delivery: |
birds made a little chippy call when they flew, not like any finch
I have heard resently. |
| Behavior: | feeding on birch seed clusters |
| Habitat: | Dense creek bottom with cottonwood, birth, willow, dogwood, and many other bush type plants. |
| Similar
species and
how were they eliminated: |
Goldfinch and Pine Siskin neither of these birds have red on them |
| Previous
experience with this & similar species: |
Three years ago I had them at my feeders in Croydon, Utah for about four months. |
| References consulted: | Sibley field guide |
| Description from: | From photo(s) taken at the time of the sighting |
| Observer: | Weston Smith |
| Observer's address: | 1375N 6800E Croydon, Utah 84018 |
| Observer's e-mail address: | ** |
| Other observers who independently identified this bird: | Paul Higgins, Billy Fenamore, and two others |
| Date prepared: | 11/29/2015 |
| Additional material: | Photos |
| Additional_Comments: |