Sighting Record for Utah

Common name:	Chestnut-collared Longspur
Scientific name:	Calcarius ornatus
Date:	10/14/26
Time:	around 2;00 PM
Length of time observed:	a few seconds
Number:
Age:
Sex:
Location:	Provo Airport Dike
County:	Utah
Latilong:
Elevation:
Distance to bird:	15 ft at closest
Optical equipment:	Vortex Diamond HD's
Weather:	windy, raining
Light Conditions:	diffused
Description: Size of bird:	sparrow sized
(Description:) Basic Shape:	Longspur
(Description:) Overall Pattern:	brown and white
(Description:) Bill Type:	not seen well
(Description:) Field Marks and Identifying Characteristics:	During the madness of the Storm Petrel fallout, I was scoping from the north west corner of the Provo Airport Dike, when a large flock of pipits started working my way. Due to the storm, the overflow pumphouse of the airport had completely flooded the fields west of the dike. This provided excellent habitat for the pipits, to which this flock I estimated at 200+ birds. Having just seen a LALO earlier in the day with a group of pipits, I started scanning and listening. Directly to my left came a CCLO giving loud KEEDLE KIDDLE calls. I've heard these calls a number of times in Box Elder county, and think of them as the most distinctive of the Longspur rattles. I looked left and quickly found the bird in flight as it was notably chunkier and shorter tailed than the AMPI s. It flew right past me and then away, then landed in the grass below me, maybe 15 ft away. As it passed me, I was able to see the white carpal patch well, and as it landed, it showed its tail, which was substantially white, except for the black triangle in the center of the tail. Unfortunately once it landed, it disappeared seemingly forever, disappearing in a sea of grass and hundreds of AMPI s. Subsequently just a few days later, friends Esther S and David H were able to photograph a CCLO in the same location. (see eBird checklist)
Song or call & method of delivery:	Rattle flight calls
Behavior:	Group flight with pipits, landing sporadically in short grass fields
Habitat:	short grass fields on the lakeside
Similar species and how were they eliminated:	LALO - rattle calls of the CCLO were more squeaky, and created the sound described as keedle kittle, as opposed to the drier, linear rattles of a LALO. The white carpals patches, and substantial white in the tail with a triangle black center, are all not features of a LALO, which I had seen earlier in the day. TBLO - rattles of this species are very similar in quality to my ear to CCLO, except that TBLO are linear, higher and shorter. TBLO wouldn't show white carpal patches, and the tail pattern would create a black T as opposed to a black triangle. I was able to also hear this species at this date and location, although more distantly. SMLO - Rattles of this species are much higher and dryer, and the tail pattern would be similar to LALO - limited white to only the outer tail feathers.
Previous experience with this & similar species:	ive seen and heard a number of our three expected Longspur Sp at Howell valley, Harold Crane WMA, and Willard South Spur.
References consulted:	Sibley, Merlin.
Description from:	Notes taken at the time of the sighting
Observer:	Mckay Olson
Observer's address:
Observer's e-mail address:	**
Other observers who independently identified this bird:	Esther Sumner, David Hollie
Date prepared:	10/28/26
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