Sighting Record for Utah

Common name:	Yellow-throated Vireo
Scientific name:	Vireo flavifrons
Date:	September 21, 2025
Time:	1:00 PM
Length of time observed:	Observed: 25 to 30 seconds
Number:	1
Age:	Unsure
Sex:	Unsure
Location:	Motoqua
County:	Washington
Latilong:	St. George
Elevation:	3,480
Distance to bird:	15 feet
Optical equipment:	Zen Ray 8 X 43
Weather:	sunny
Light Conditions:	sunny day and lit from the front
Description: Size of bird:	small passerine
(Description:) Basic Shape:	vireo shape
(Description:) Overall Pattern:	yellow, white, and gray
(Description:) Bill Type:	vireo bill with slight hook
(Description:) Field Marks and Identifying Characteristics:	I was looking up in a cottonwood at a Western Flycatcher when I saw movement in nearby leaves. I moved my binoculars over and was immediately taken by the beautiful bird that was different than anything I'd seen lately. I noticed the white undertail coverts, and white belly, that seemed white, not buffy, but maybe the white stuck out so much because of the vibrant yellow chest. There seemed to be a straight line between yellow and white, it didn't blend into each other. I then could see two white bold wing bars set against a darker grayish black wing with dark primaries and as it flew the tail looked dark as well. On the face I could see yellow into the throat and the classic spectacle of the solitary vireo family, but these spectacles were yellow instead of our local solitary vireos that are white. The bill resembled a vireo bill with the slight hook. Also the yellow spectacles stuck out as brighter yellow compared to a dusky kind of yellow of the head. I was able to watch it for maybe up to 30 seconds before I lost it and it headed south. I spent the next 90 minutes trying to relocate the bird to get a photo, but was unsuccessful as the bird flew into private property. I did not notice feet or leg color, and also did get great views of the top of the back as the bird was up higher in the canopy.
Song or call & method of delivery:	unfortunately the bird was silent.
Behavior:	Moving through the Cottonwood leaves going from tree to tree moving south onto private property. It seemed to behave similar to any solitary type vireo in the canopy of a tree. I never saw the bird move lower than the top few feet of the canopy.
Habitat:	riparian habitat in mojave desert setting with primarily Fremont Cottonwoods.
Similar species and how were they eliminated:	Pine Warbler is probably the most similar looking bird to a Yellow-throated vireo, but it was eliminated by the white that reaches higher in the belly, yellow spectacles, and vireo type bill with hook. Yellow-throated Warbler- Bird did not have any streaking on flanks, nor the black mask and eyebrow strip Swinhoe's White-eye I have seen this bird in California, and don't believe there are any records of it outside the west coast. However this bird did not have a white eye, nor did it have yellow-under tail coverts Other Warblers like Townsend- The bill rules out warblers, and the pure white belly with no streaking rules out a Townsend No Vireo would have that amount of vibrant yellow from the throat down into the chest and have yellow spectacles
Previous experience with this & similar species:	I have seen them back east multiple times, but never in Utah.
References consulted:	Sibley, E-bird
Description from:	Notes taken at the time of the sighting
Observer:	KC Childs
Observer's address:	Orem, UT
Observer's e-mail address:	**
Other observers who independently identified this bird:	none, I was alone
Date prepared:	September 21, 2025
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