Sighting Record for Utah

Common name:	Eastern Bluebird
Scientific name:	Sialia sialis
Date:	3-1-26
Time:	4:30pm
Length of time observed:	30 minutes
Number:	2 at least
Age:	adult
Sex:	males
Location:	Grafton
County:	Washington
Latilong:	37.166329, -113.081908
Elevation:	3,600ft~
Distance to bird:	5m at closest
Optical equipment:	Nikon 10x42 Binoculars
Weather:	Mostly sunny, calm, 77F
Light Conditions:	Good
Description: Size of bird:	medium sized passerine
(Description:) Basic Shape:	Thrush like
(Description:) Overall Pattern:	blue, orange and white
(Description:) Bill Type:	Frugivore
(Description:) Field Marks and Identifying Characteristics:	Initially seen in the orchard, I spotted a bluebird at the top of an Apple tree, briefly looked at it in the binos and noted orange and blue, which I then dismissed as a Western Bluebird (which are common here and probably nest here). But then it flew across the orchard singing and landed above me in a tree on the road, the song was unfamiliar and not the typical Western song, lacking the harsh clicking notes, which caused me too look at it again and I saw the white belly and lack of any orange on the back, plus an orange throat. It landed right above me, then did another flight song back to the orchard, then came right back to me on the road. As I was watch and photographing this one, I heard another Bluebird singing an identical song back in the orchard while looking at the 1st. I turned around and saw another male fly across the road into another orchard signing, I went and got photos of that one. I then resumed walking down the road, and then either the 1st or a nother (I lost track of it) perched in a tree above the ghost town, I got photos of that one, also a male. I then walked to the end of the road to the west, turned around and 2 more together, both males, were flying over another pasture singing, one landing right above me. Honestly not sure if it was the same 2 just following me around, or the place was infested with them, but they were all over the place singing giving excellent looks. I tried really hard to turn one of them into a Western, but was not accommodated. I did see many Westerns the next morning on the Kolob Terrace to confirm I can indeed ID them correctly. (see photos)
Song or call & method of delivery:	Singing actively, including doing flight songs. See videos of their songs.
Behavior:	Singing, flying and flycatching. I watched one catch and eat an insect.
Habitat:	Cultivated orchards and pastures, but along the Virgin River Riparian corridor.
Similar species and how were they eliminated:	Western Bluebird-very similar and expected at this location, however males have a blue belly and blue throat. Also male Westerns usually(but not always) have a red patch on the back. On Westerns the blue is of a different shade, more of a purply indigo blue, not the royal blue these guys have. Calls and song more clicky and harsher. Mountain Bluebird-males are a solid sky blue, with a low contrast paler belly and white vent and undertail coverts. Females can show a dull rusty breast and a weak dingy belly, but these were unmistakable bright males. Calls and song are softer with an almost cooing quality.
Previous experience with this & similar species:	Yes, many with all 3 species, although Eastern I see the least often(last sighting was August 2025 in AZ).
References consulted:	Sibley App to compare calls in the field.
Description from:	Notes taken at the time of the sighting From photo(s) taken at the time of the sighting
Observer:	Bryant Olsen
Observer's address:	84102
Observer's e-mail address:	**
Other observers who independently identified this bird:	None that I know of
Date prepared:	3/3/26
Additional material:	Photos
Additional comments:	eBird checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S305183278