Verification of Unusual
Sight Record
For Utah
Rec. # 2026-38
| Common name: |
Arctic Tern |
| Scientific name: | Sterna paradisaea |
| Date: | 6/25/2026 |
| Time: | 2:46 |
| Length of time observed: | Five minutes |
| Number: | 1 |
| Age: | Adult |
| Sex: | unknown |
| Location: | Around (40.7411,-112.1897) [south shore of Great Salt Lake] |
| County: | Salt Lake County |
| Latilong: | (40.7411,-112.1897) |
| Elevation: | Unkown |
| Distance to bird: | 50 Feet |
| Optical equipment: | Binoculars |
| Weather: | partly over cast |
| Light Conditions: | good? |
| Description: Size of bird: | Seemed relatively small but it wasn't around any other birds flying. |
| (Description:) Basic Shape: | slender almost swallow like |
| (Description:) Overall Pattern: | pale gray |
| (Description:) Bill Type: | short, slender, and pointed bill |
|
(Description:)
Field Marks and Identifying Characteristics: |
Blood red bill, overall pale gray color, white cheek, and forked tail. |
| Song or call & method of delivery: |
none |
| Behavior: | Flying |
| Habitat: | Open pool of water. |
| Similar
species and
how were they eliminated: |
The birds long wings consistently pale gray color with the rest of the body the pale gray color stretched through the wings lacking the black carpal bars or wedges in wings that and the solid red bill rules out Common Tern. Forster's Tern wouldn't have the solid red bill or white cheek patch as an adult Arctic would |
| Previous
experience with this & similar species: |
I see Common and Forster's Terns every year and just got to see my lifer Arctic Tern in early may. |
| References consulted: | none |
| Description from: | Notes taken at the time of the sighting |
| Observer: | Isaac Brown and Asher Richardson. |
| Observer's address: | |
| Observer's e-mail address: | ** |
| Other observers who independently identified this bird: | |
| Date prepared: | 6/27/2026 |
| Additional material: | No_additional_Materials |
| Additional comments: |