Verification of Unusual
Sight Record
For Utah
Rec. # 2026-02
| Common name: |
Vermilion Flycatcheer |
| Scientific name: | Pyrocephalus obscurus |
| Date: | 31 December 2025 |
| Time: | 9:17 AM |
| Length of time observed: | 5 minutes |
| Number: | 1 |
| Age: | Adult |
| Sex: | Female |
| Location: | Provo (east side of Skipper Bay Trail) |
| County: | Utah |
| Latilong: | 40.244287, -111.732926 |
| Elevation: | 4,495 feet |
| Distance to bird: | 30 feet |
| Optical equipment: | Vortex binoculars, Canon SX60HS for photos |
| Weather: | 29 degrees |
| Light Conditions: | mostly sunny |
| Description: Size of bird: | 5 inches |
| (Description:) Basic Shape: | stocky, peaked head, barrel chested |
| (Description:) Overall Pattern: | Grayish-brown, brown streaked, red underparts |
| (Description:) Bill Type: | stubby |
|
(Description:)
Field Marks and Identifying Characteristics: |
Grayish-brown upper and wings, with two pale wingbars. Outer tail
feathers appeared tipped white, but that may have just been the sun.
White underneath the short bill, then brown streaking on the chest.
Reddish underparts. (see photos) |
| Song or call & method of delivery: | Did not observe or hear any sounds |
| Behavior: | Perching on different low branches over a canal. Flew down at one point, appearing to grab a bug above the ice. Indicative of flycatcher. |
| Habitat: | Riparian along an irrigation canal. Decidious trees between the canal and the walking trail. |
| Similar
species and
how were they eliminated: |
Other flycatchers seasonally may have been Dusky, Gray, Hammond's, but those should have all migrated out in the early fall. A vagrant Black Phoebe that has been seen in the area, but it has the traditional stark black and white coloring. This subject's brown streaking, reddish underparts were indicative of a Vermie. |
| Previous
experience with this & similar species: |
My wife and I were accustomed to seeing numerous subjects of Vermilion Flycatchers in many years living in Southern California and visiting South Texas. My eBird account shows 25 different sightings over the past seven years and a total of 53 individuals. |
| References consulted: | Sibley |
| Description from: | From photo(s) taken at the time of the sighting |
| Observer: | Joel McIntyre |
| Observer's address: | 10921 S Kestrel Rise Rd., South Jordan, UT 84009 |
| Observer's e-mail address: | ** |
| Other observers who independently identified this bird: | Connie McIntyre |
| Date prepared: | 8 January 2026 |
| Additional material: | Photos |
| Additional comments: |