Sighting Record for Utah

Common name:	Vaux's Swift
Scientific name:	[Chaetura vauxi]
Date:	4.27.25
Time:	7:10am
Length of time observed:	approximtely 1 or 2 minutes
Number:	2, possibly more
Age:
Sex:
Location:	Over Santa Clara River adjacent to Tonaquint Nature Park, St George
County:	Washington
Latilong:
Elevation:	~2800
Distance to bird:	40-80 yards
Optical equipment:	Swarovski 42x8.5
Weather:	Cool (50s), low wind, partly cloudy with moderately low ceiling
Light Conditions:	Morning light through intermittent clouds; best views were in optimal lighting
Description: Size of bird:	about same as Violet-green Swallows
(Description:) Basic Shape:	swift, most notably stiff, sickle-shaped wings
(Description:) Overall Pattern:	nondescript brown-gray, pailer throat and rump
(Description:) Bill Type:	small/short (swift)
(Description:) Field Marks and Identifying Characteristics:	Overall nondescript gray-brown, but most notably CONTRASTING PALER RUMP & UPPERTAIL COVERTS as well as throat and upper breast area. Stiff, sickle-shaped wings; cigar-shaped body; tiny bill. Rapid, super-agile flight -- see "behavior" below for distinguishing flight characteristics.
Song or call & method of delivery:	Silent
Behavior:	Foraging alone at moderately high elevation when first sighted, but then mostly associating with a foraging flock of mostly Violet-green Swallows at lower elevation, a few times dropping down to near eye level over the Santa Clara River corridor. Combo of soaring/gliding and rapid, stiff wingbeats -- once or twice the rapidly "tipsy," almost vibrating wingbeats of Vaux's Swift. Gliding flight was smooth and direct or in broad, sweeping curves, as if "knifing"/cutting through the air; no abrupt pinwheeling or change-of-direction/pace as Violet-greens are prone to do. Flight appeared more efficient and powerful than swallows.
Habitat:	Foraging alone at moderately high elevation when first sighted, but then mostly associating with a foraging flock of mostly Violet-green Swallows at lower elevation, a few times dropping down to near eye level over the Santa Clara River corridor. Combo of soaring/gliding and rapid, stiff wingbeats -- once or twice the rapidly "tipsy," almost vibrating wingbeats of Vaux's Swift. Gliding flight was smooth and direct or in broad, sweeping curves, as if "knifing"/cutting through the air; no abrupt pinwheeling or change-of-direction/pace as Violet-greens are prone to do. Flight appeared more efficient and powerful than swallows.
Similar species and how were they eliminated:	Violet-green (and other) Swallow: Similar size but distinct flight pattern. See "behavior" above. White-throated Swift: Not big enough; overall slower and less graceful flight; uniform-looking plumage. Black Swift: Not big enough; flight less gliding (more wingbeats); more brown overall. Chimney Swift: The contrasting paler rump and uppertail coverts observed well in good light twice as it banked at viewable elevation and distance (~50 yards).
Previous experience with this & similar species:	30+ years in W Washington observing Vaux's Swifts and targeting them specifically to pick them out of mixed swallow flocks. During peak spring migration we sometimes had 100s pass over, a few of which nested on my block. A chimney roost was regularly utilized in September 2 blocks from my home. In the last 12 months in Washington County I have seen a total of 3 Vaux s Swifts: The first sightings, at Tonaquint exactly 1 year ago, were only from below; the third sighting at Sand Hollow also showed the contrasting rump/uppertail coverts. I have observed Chimney Swifts only a few times in the East, only from below.
References consulted:	National Geo field guide, only to verify contrast in rump etc
Description from:	From memory
Observer:	Paul Hicks
Observer's address:	1630 E 2450 So #26, St George 84790
Observer's e-mail address:	**
Other observers who independently identified this bird:	Asher Lee, an outstanding young birder, first spotted it.
Date prepared:	4.27.25
Additional material:
Additional comments:	I was leading a birding-by-ear field practice outing as follow-up to my BBE workshop for the Red Cliffs/Greater Zion BirdFest. Asher Lee and I were literally just seconds before recalling the 2 Vaux s Swifts we saw exactly 1 year ago at exactly the same spot during the same BBE field trip. He called out swift! and I quickly spotted it at moderately high elevation directly overhead and observed it fly toward the east where I could clearly see the shape of the wings/body and observe the distinctive flight characteristics. The bird, or possibly a second one, was soon spotted foraging at a low elevation over the river course with about 20 Violet-green Swallows. Once or twice it passed overhead at moderately low elevation from west to east, clearly showing the paler throat and upper breast area. Twice it banked at favorable elevation, a few feet above eye level, and in optimal light (to the west), clearly showing the paler, contrasting rump and uppertail coverts. I am fairly certain Asher made the same observations (as I had called out to the group what to look for: stiff, narrow wings, cigar-shaped body, rapid flight on sometimes tipsy rapid wingbeats. And ESPECIALLY the DIAGNOSTIC CONTRASTING RUMP), but I didn t confirm with the other five birders in our field trip party their observations. It is possible more swifts were present than the two I saw. Asher got word that Jenner Bryson photographed the bird(s). I also posted the sighting to eBird.