Sighting Record for Utah

Common name:	Zone-tailed Hawk
Scientific name:	Buteo albonotatus
Date:	8 Apr 23
Time:	12:15 pm
Length of time observed:	8 minutes
Number:	2
Age:
Sex:
Location:	South of Hurricane, Utah, only a couple miles North of Arizona border
County:	Washington
Latilong:	37.057991, -113.307628
Elevation:
Distance to bird:	Soaring in circles above me quite high, maybe 200 feet
Optical equipment:	binoculars
Weather:	Fair and sunny
Light Conditions:	mid-day, no clouds
Description: Size of bird:	hawk
(Description:) Basic Shape:
(Description:) Overall Pattern:
(Description:) Bill Type:
(Description:) Field Marks and Identifying Characteristics:	I could only see the underbody. The body and under-wing coverts were very dark. The tail had no noticeable markings, so maybe they were juveniles. They only soared, no flapping. The primaries and secondaries were gray. This is not a positive ID. I had not seen this type of hawk before. It was just the best match I could find in my field guide; Sibley Birds.
Song or call & method of delivery:
Behavior:	Soaring in circles around each other
Habitat:	desert
Similar species and how were they eliminated:	Too big of head for turkey vulture and wings appeared flat. Wrong area for black vulture and black hawk and short-tailed hawk. Nothing else is that dark underneath.
Previous experience with this & similar species:	None
References consulted:	Sibley Birds 2nd edition
Description from:	Notes taken at the time of the sighting
Observer:	Dale Cottrell
Observer's address:	50 S. 830 W. Garland, Utah 84312
Observer's e-mail address:	**
Other observers who independently identified this bird:
Date prepared:	22 May 23
Additional material:
Additional comments:	I hope this is helpful for you. I did consult with my bird mentor that volunteers at the Bear River Bird Refuge; Dean M. Lester.