Verification of Unusual
Sight Record
For Utah
Rec. # 2021-48a
| Common name: |
Parasitic Jaeger |
| Scientific name: | Stercorarius parasiticus |
| Date: | 9/4/2021 |
| Time: | 3:45 |
| Length of time observed: | 1 hr |
| Number: | 1 |
| Age: | Immature |
| Sex: | |
| Location: | Decker Lake |
| County: | Salt Lake |
| Latilong: | first spotted at 40.711538, -111.951781 |
| Elevation: | |
| Distance to bird: | closest 10 yds |
| Optical equipment: | 8x binocs, 65x optical zoom 230x digital zoom canon cam |
| Weather: | sunny |
| Light Conditions: | fine |
| Description: Size of bird: | gull sized |
| (Description:) Basic Shape: | gull shaped |
| (Description:) Overall Pattern: | dark brown |
| (Description:) Bill Type: | thin, hooked, bluish at base black at tip |
|
(Description:)
Field Marks and Identifying Characteristics: |
Very similar to a gull, very dark brown (head included) with a pale belly to
undertail, barring on undertail and lower breast, spotting on back and
underwings secondaries near base, wedge-shaped tail with a slight point at the
tip and white stripe on the middle-outer tail. Extensive white flash in wings
(10-11 shafts) with pale base and dark coverts. (see photos & Video) |
| Song or call & method of delivery: | Thought I heard a drawn out mewing squeal. Very interested (did not respond) to Parasitic playback. |
| Behavior: | Kleptoparasitism. |
| Habitat: | Dumpy small lake, sitting on sandbar. |
| Similar
species and
how were they eliminated: |
Elimination: Pomarine: quicker wingbeats, pale belly AND dark
head Long-tailed: Chased gulls while foraging, steady powerful wingbeats, extensive white flash on wings. Gulls: all dark |
| Previous
experience with this & similar species: |
None whatsoever |
| References consulted: | eBird, Sibley guides, Birds of North America: Western Reigon |
| Description from: |
Notes taken at the time of the sighting From photo(s) taken at the time of the sighting |
| Observer: | Ben Stradling |
| Observer's address: | |
| Observer's e-mail address: | ** |
| Other observers who independently identified this bird: | Found by Bryant Olsen, later spotted by Matthew Pendleton, Ben Johnson, Ken Pahlas, Jackson Reich, Rachel LeBlanc, Ian Batterman, Von Welch, Joanna Kane, Corey Riding, Meghan Halaburda, Neldon Kunz, Kenny Frich (who confirmed all sightings), Kyle Fisher, Mary McGreal (some in groups and a few changed from Pomarine or Long-tailed) |
| Date prepared: | 9/4/2021 |
| Additional material: | Photos, Video |
| Additional comments: |