Sighting Record for Utah

Common name:	Rusty Blackbird
Scientific name:	Euphagus carolinus
Date:	11-9-19
Time:	1:53PM
Length of time observed:	~10 minutes
Number:	1
Age:	Adult
Sex:	Female
Location:	Ken's Lake
County:	San Juan
Latilong:	N38.48024° W109.42699°
Elevation:	5050
Distance to bird:	estimate 50 feet
Optical equipment:	Canon 10x stabilized binoculars, swarovski 30-70x scope, Sony RX10 iv Camera
Weather:	I recall it was a nice day, perhaps 60's to 70.
Light Conditions:	Sunny
Description: Size of bird:	Smaller than robin, larger than sparrow
(Description:) Basic Shape:	Overall rusty / gray, lighter underneath
(Description:) Overall Pattern:
(Description:) Bill Type:	Medium length, straight and tapered. Dark in color.
(Description:) Field Marks and Identifying Characteristics:	The bird was overall gray and rusty in color, lighter on the underside with a light eye. More rust color on the shoulder with rusty edged to tertials and gray rump. Rusty crown, broad light supercilium and dark band through eye. See photos. (see photos)
Song or call & method of delivery:	Vocalizations that were unfamiliar to me alerted me to the presence of this bird. It was calling intermittently, often while perched near the top of Cottonwood trees. Recording submitted.
Behavior:	Moving through mid and top level of cottonwood trees, also closer to ground in Tamarisk bushes, on the ground once or twice.
Habitat:	Cottonwoods, tamarisk and brush in dry area of lakebed
Similar species and how were they eliminated:	Clearly a blackbird by body and bill shape, dark color, light eye, and vocalizations. Light eye color leaves only Brewer's Blackbird and Common Grackle as other possible options. Rusty coloration and facial pattern eliminate these.
Previous experience with this & similar species:	Seen this species once previously in the midwest.
References consulted:	National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America 7th edition; Birds of the World, Cornell Lab of Orinthology
Description from:	From photo(s) taken at the time of the sighting
Observer:	Glenn Kincaid
Observer's address:	238 Miller Lane Castle Valley Ut 84532
Observer's e-mail address:	**
Other observers who independently identified this bird:
Date prepared:	9-9-22
Additional material:	Photos, Tape
Additional comments:	Additional_Comments: At the time of this sighting Rusty Blackbird had been removed from the review list. As it has been included again I therefore submit this record well after the fact. As such the level of detail is less than usual. ebird checklist here: https://ebird.org/checklist/S61312340