Sighting Record for Utah

Common name:	Blackburnian Warbler
Scientific name:	Setophaga fusca
Date:	Sept 13, 2023
Time:	1:56pm
Length of time observed:	3/4 minutes
Number:	1
Age:	Unknown
Sex:	Female/immature male
Location:	River Lane
County:	Utah
Latilong:	40.166893, -111.748107
Elevation:	~4,500 ft
Distance to bird:	25 feet
Optical equipment:	Swarovski SLC 10x42 binoculars. 820mm Canon Lens
Weather:	Sunny with scattered clouds
Light Conditions:	Clear
Description: Size of bird:	Small/Medium
(Description:) Basic Shape:	Warbler
(Description:) Overall Pattern:	Yellow, black, white
(Description:) Bill Type:	All purpose
(Description:) Field Marks and Identifying Characteristics:	Warbler with yellow throat and chest. White belly and undertail/vent. Black tail. Dark gray-ish streaking and a pair of "braces" on back with some brown/olive color mixed in. Black streaks on flanks. 2 bold white wing bars on a black wing. Dark brown/olive triangular cheek patch surrounded by yellow. Creamy white colored crescent eye-ring under the eye. Broad yellow supercilium. Brown/olive cap. (see photos)
Song or call & method of delivery:	Did not vocalize
Behavior:	Foraging and flitting about in general warbler-like fashion.
Habitat:	Willows, cottonwoods, riverside brush. Mixed vegetation.
Similar species and how were they eliminated:	James had just seen the bird when I arrived. He showed me a photo he had taken, and I immediately thought it was a Blackburnian Warbler. Without even picking apart the specifics that separate it from other warblers, the overall impression was Blackburnian. Within a few minutes the bird flew in with a group of Black-capped Chickadee's and a Black-throated Gray Warbler. We got great looks for a few minutes and snapped a few more photos. We spoke out the specific details and field marks mentioned above that we were seeing while looking through binoculars and camera. It left and came back 2 more times, giving us a few more looks. Using the photos James took, we were able to more closely examine some of the more species-specific details. The main species to separate from is Townsend's Warbler (the more likely species at this place and time). Differentiated by... --The 2 very strong white wing bars on a black wing (Townsend s generally not as bold). --Dark streaking with a pair of "braces" running down their back is a Blackburnian trait and can be seen in one of the photos. --Triangular shaped cheek patch is diagnostic. All plumages have this. This bird had a hint of gray in with the brown/olive color. --The crescent eye-ring below the eye is more of a yellow color in Townsend's. Not the creamy white of this individual. --In all Blackburnian I have seen the black in the wing continues into the shoulder, whereas most Townsend's seem to turn to brown/olive in this area. One or more of each of the above-mentioned species-specific traits or field marks rule out other species of warblers. Cape May, Blackpoll, Bay-breasted, Palm, Yellow-throated, Pine, Grace s, Hermit s, Golden-cheeked, Black-throated Green were all considered and ruled out.
Previous experience with this & similar species:	I have seen every Warbler mentioned numerous times and in numerous locations. I have documented Blackburnian on over 30 different occasions and Townsend's over 50.
References consulted:	Sibley, Merlin, iBird
Description from:	Notes taken at the time of the sighting From photo(s) taken at the time of the sighting
Observer:	Steve Clark & James Loveless
Observer's address:	4650 Hillside Dr, Provo
Observer's e-mail address:	**
Other observers who independently identified this bird:	It was found and reported to eBird by Gilbert Bouchard earlier in the day.
Date prepared:	Sept 17, 2023
Additional material:	Photos
Additional comments:	EBird checklist for Steve https://ebird.org/checklist/S149839066 EBird checklist for James https://ebird.org/checklist/S149839195