Sighting Record for Utah

Common name:	Alder Flycatcher
Scientific name:	Empidonax alnorum
Date:	6/22/2022
Time:	14:45
Length of time observed:	30 mins
Number:	1
Age:	Adult
Sex:
Location:	Little Dell Reservoir
County:	Salt Lake
Latilong:	(40.7796064, -111.6836774)
Elevation:
Distance to bird:	30 feet
Optical equipment:	Binocs and point shoot camera
Weather:	Cloudy, humid
Light Conditions:	Not great
Description: Size of bird:	5-6 in
(Description:) Basic Shape:	Passerine
(Description:) Overall Pattern:	Dark above, pale below
(Description:) Bill Type:	Tyrranid like, dark upper and orangey lower mandibles
(Description:) Field Marks and Identifying Characteristics:	Large empid. Brown above, pale below. Yellowish on belly and clean white on breast extending onto throat. No vest or brown of any kind on underside. Brownish head with pale lores. Prominent eye-ring more prominent that Willow. Very dark wings with two pronounced wing bars. Long tailed with short primary projection. (see photo)
Song or call & method of delivery:	Very different from Willow, a harsh fee-BEEu or Free Beer. (audio)
Behavior:	Flycatching in understory, never repeated perches.
Habitat:	Shrubby understory with tall bushes and nearby meadows.
Similar species and how were they eliminated:	Voice determines all. Perfectly clean pale underside eliminates Dusky, Hammond, and Gray. More prominent eye ring and more contrast overall than Willow, much too large to be Least.
Previous experience with this & similar species:	Lots of experience with Dusky, Gray, and Willow flycatchers, none with Alder.
References consulted:
Description from:	From memory 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:	Seen by many and confirmed by Kenny Frisch. Originally spotted by Adam Zahm.
Date prepared:	6/22/2022
Additional material:	Photo, Audio
Additional comments: