Verification of Unusual
Sight Record
For Utah
Rec. # 2026-81
| Common name: |
Ruff |
| Scientific name: | Calidris pugnax |
| Date: | October 16, 2026 |
| Time: | 3:00 p.m. |
| Length of time observed: | ~1 hour across the 2-hour total trip |
| Number: | 1 |
| Age: | Adult |
| Sex: | Probably female due to dowitcher-size |
| Location: | Harold Crane WMA |
| County: | Box Elder |
| Latilong: | 41.35414 -112.14359 |
| Elevation: | 4,207 feet |
| Distance to bird: | 30-400 yards |
| Optical equipment: | 8 x 42 binos; 85 mm scope w/20-60 zoom eyepiece |
| Weather: | Clear, Temps in the 60's |
| Light Conditions: | Sunny |
| Description: Size of bird: | Similar to dowitchers present |
| (Description:) Basic Shape: | Plump oval, attenuated at tail/wingtips |
| (Description:) Overall Pattern: | Gray and white |
| (Description:) Bill Type: | Long, thin and slightly decurved |
|
(Description:)
Field Marks and Identifying Characteristics: |
The bird was with a large flock of dowitchers in a
shallow surface water area. I saw it from a great distance at first,
really out of scope range, and could see the oddly short bill, feathers
sticking up off the bird's back, bright white underparts and a flash of
bright color every time the bird lifted its tibio-tarsal joint out of
the water. Upon closer observation, the body size was about the same as
the dowitchers. It had an oddly small head and thin, slightly decurved
black bill which seemed too short for a bird this size. The bill joined
the forehead at a shallow angle. White area on the face just behind the
bill looked like the bird had impaled a tiny white donut with its bill
and the donut's powdered sugar stayed on its face surrounding the bill.
No supercilium. The upper-parts were gray-ish brown with a pale edge to
the scapulars, wing coverts and tertial feathers lending a scaly texture
to the bird's upper-parts and helping it stand out from the more uniform dowitchers. It was pure white below with striking orange legs. The
light breeze often lifted the tertials off the tail. (see photos) |
| Song or call & method of delivery: | None heard. |
| Behavior: | Feeding and preening in a surface water area with a large flock of dowitchers. It was very active and easy to spot not only because of the bright orange legs and white underparts, but this bird dashed around constantly as it foraged making it stand out from the more sedately-feeding dowitchers. The mixed flock flushed several times, although not from my intrusion, but they also returned several times to nearly the same place to resume their activities. |
| Habitat: | Muddy surface water area in a larger brackish water marsh. |
| Similar
species and
how were they eliminated: |
The only other medium-sized shorebird that has bright orange legs is the Ruddy Turnstone, but that bird is smaller than a dowitcher and would show blackish, brown and white plumage at this time of year, and is even less likely to be in Utah in October. |
| Previous
experience with this & similar species: |
Two in Utah documented in UBRC records 2024-74 and 2026-62. |
| References consulted: | After taking notes: Jonsson's Birds of Europe, Sibley, The Shorebird Guide, Shorebirds of North America |
| Description from: |
Notes taken at the time of the sighting From photo(s) taken at the time of the sighting |
| Observer: | Kristin M Purdy |
| Observer's address: | Ogden, Utah |
| Observer's e-mail address: | ** |
| Other observers who independently identified this bird: | None |
| Date prepared: | October 16, 2026 |
| Additional material: | Photos |
| Additional comments: | I recorded my notes on my phone as I slogged back to the parking lot. |