Sighting Record for Utah

Common name:	Red Phalarope
Scientific name:	Phalaropus fulicarius
Date:	10/13/2026
Time:	14:07
Length of time observed:	Near 60 minutes
Number:	1
Age:	Unknown
Sex:	Unknown
Location:	Utah Lake State Park
County:	Utah
Latilong:	(40.2405596, -111.7472119)
Elevation:	4,480 ft
Distance to bird:	Closest at 20 yards
Optical equipment:	Vortex 10x42 Binoculars, Vortex Scope, Canon R5 - 100-500mm lens
Weather:	Windy, Overcast, about 55 degrees Fahrenheit
Light Conditions:	Overcast, midday
Description: Size of bird:	Approximately 8"
(Description:) Basic Shape:	Phalarope type
(Description:) Overall Pattern:	Gray, white
(Description:) Bill Type:	Medium sized, phalarope shape.
(Description:) Field Marks and Identifying Characteristics:	First noted a phalarope at about 500 yards out on Utah Lake. Watched as it came closer when McKay and Esther arrived. After close observation, noted a rather thick bill with a pale base. Rather chunky appearance while sitting on the water. The thing that threw us off of REPH for a few minutes was that the back seemed darker than the typical individuals we had seen in previous years. After taking photos and continuing to observe the bird at a close distance, and consulting field guides and photos of this species, we concluded it was a molting individual that was retaining some dark on its back. The bill was far too stocky and thick to be a RNPH. It seemed to also retain an orange tint in the throat, further suggesting it was in the molting process. Although it had a dark back, there was no apparent streaking on the back. In flight, the UWCs could be seen well, displaying clean white UWCs. After several encounters with this species, I've noticed the way the bill is positioned on the head is much more down-slanted than the straight bill projection of RNPH. This bird showed the same feature. (see photos)
Song or call & method of delivery:	None observed.
Behavior:	Sitting on the water and flying
Habitat:	Open Water
Similar species and how were they eliminated:	Red-necked Phalarope was eliminated due to the thick bill with a pale bill base and an unstreaked back, along with clean white UWCs. It seemed to sit higher in the water than RNPH typically do and also seemed chunkier/larger than the typical RNPH.
Previous experience with this & similar species:	One on the Antelope Island Causeway this year. Several there in the past. Every year I see thousands of the similar RNPH.
References consulted:	Sibley Bird Guide, Macaulay Library.
Description from:
Observer:	Asher Lee
Observer's address:	Herriman, Utah
Observer's e-mail address:	**
Other observers who independently identified this bird:	Jesse Lee, McKay Olson, Esther Sumner, Kaleb Anderson, Peiter Anderson, David Hollie, Ian Peay, Robby Neilson, KC Childs, Claire Chipman.
Date prepared:	10/22/2026
Additional material:	Photos
Additional comments:	[eBird checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S402141281?