Sighting Record for Utah

Common name:	Eastern Phoebe
Scientific name:	Sayornis phoebe
Date:	6/8/2020
Time:	5:00 pm
Length of time observed:	2 hours
Number:	1
Age:	Adult
Sex:	Unknown
Location:	Utah Lake North Shore Parkway Trail
County:	Utah
Latilong:
Elevation:
Distance to bird:	15 feet at closest
Optical equipment:	10x42 Nikon Monarchs; Canon EOS 7D - 100-400mm Lens
Weather:	Intermittent rain; overcast. A series of rainstorms have been present the last several days.
Light Conditions:	Varying light conditions over duration observed. Viewed in direct sunlight and also during the rain in lower light conditions.
Description: Size of bird:	Medium-sized Flycatcher. Roughly 7"
(Description:) Basic Shape:	Classic phoebe shape. Stockier than empidonax flycatcher and pewees. Large head.
(Description:) Overall Pattern:	Dark brown/gray backside; faint yellow wash across belly/flanks; dark cap/forehead; white throat and hint of gray wash on the chest.
(Description:) Bill Type:	Flycatcher bill -- entirely dark, rounded tip.
(Description:) Field Marks and Identifying Characteristics:	Dark brown/gray back and tail with even darker cap and forehead; white throat contrasted noticeably with the dark head. The bird had a faint yellow wash across the belly and flanks - not a bright yellow by any means. Gray wash noticeable on chest. Faint wing bars also observed. Seen dipping its tail downwards as well as the the classic, side-to-side swishing motion. (see photos)
Song or call & method of delivery:	Phoebe like chirps. Superficially similar to Black Phoebe, which I am more familiar with.
Behavior:	Flycatching from low hanging branches or dead branches of fallen trees. Occasionally would fly up into a Willow or Cottonwood and perch mid-canopy for 10-15 minutes before actively feeding again.
Habitat:	See photo. Many dead sticks and fallen trees providing perches for the Phoebe to use. Grassy area in adjacent property. Tall willows/cottonwoods along small canal.
Similar species and how were they eliminated:	Western Wood-Pewee: Noticeably larger than Wood-Pewees which were numerous in the area. EAPH had a much darker cap and forehead, less pronounced vest, light yellow belly, and bulkier head and body shape. Black Phoebe: Call was superficially the same, however physical appearance differed immensely. No black hood or white belly/undertail coverts. Female Vermillion Flycatcher: Also unexpected in the area. Much larger and lacked any streaking on the breast. Dark cap similar to female Vermillion.
Previous experience with this & similar species:	I have observed numerous Eastern Phoebes across the eastern United States, primarily in Minnesota where I lived for several months. This was in the summer of 2017.
References consulted:	Sibley Guide to Birds.
Description from:	Notes taken at the time of the sighting
Observer:	Kendall Watkins
Observer's address:	2622 W Dry Creek Drive
Observer's e-mail address:	**
Other observers who independently identified this bird:	Bryant Olsen, Mike Malmquist, Max Malmquist, Von Welch
Date prepared:	6/8/2020
Additional material:	Photos
Additional comments:	I believe Bryant Olsen has video of this bird as well as more photos. Max and Mike also have photos. I am also adding a photo for the "habitat" field, which shows the area the bird was using.