UBRC Report- 2023

Utah Birds Records Committee – Report for 2023

Mike Hearell, Max Malmquist, Keeli Marvel, Bryant Olsen, Kristin Purdy, Mike Schijf, Mark Stackhouse, David Wheeler and Kevin Wheeler,  Non-voting Members:  Milt Moody (Secretary/Webmaster), Eric Huish (Archivist), Cody Neuman (eBird Liaison)

This annual report of the Committee summarizes 86 records of 51 species submitted in 2023.  The Committee accepted 70 of these records - 81.4%..

Incoming Committee member for the 2024 year, Dennis Shirley also participated in the review of some of the records included in this report  The report was compiled by Milt Moody and proofread and revised by Kris Purdy, Bryant Olsen, Mike Schijf and David Wheeler.  Comments for some of these records were taken from the comments made in the review process or from others specific observations and are indicated by an italicized paragraph at the end of the record information.

One new species was added to the Utah bird list this year.  A first-state sighting of a Hepatic Tanager on 27 Nov 2023 (2023-80) in West Valley City, Salt Lake Co., by Carel Brest van Kempen was accepted by the Committee . The sighting was documented with excellent photos by many observers over a period of 17 days.  With a loss of one species because of a merge of Pacific-slope and  Cordilleran Flycatchers back to one species, Western Flycatcher, the total number of species on the official Utah State Checklist stays at 462, and with the seven "Provisional Species" on the Auxiliary List, the total of species accepted by the Committee remains at 469. 
 

The Utah Bird Records Committee would like to thank those who submitted the documentation for their sightings of these rare birds.

SPECIES ACCOUNTS:

All species evaluated by the Committee are listed by common and scientific name using the nomenclature and taxonomic order of the American Ornithological Society Checklist of North American Birds, 7th Edition, 64th supplement., followed (in parentheses) by the number of Utah records accepted for this species in the last ten years and the total all-time number of official sightings for Utah.

The following information is included with each record in the species section:  record number, sighting date and  location, observers, with the initial finder listed first, then other contributors, if any, followed (in parentheses) by the number of birds observed along with age and sex if known and a link to any photos and finally, the  final-round vote of the Committee with the first number being the “accept” votes and the second number being the “not-accept” votes.  For those records that were not accepted, a review summary (in parentheses) will follow the final round vote. Any additional comments about individual records will be in italics after that record and comments about the species records as a whole will be in a final italicized paragraph at the end of the species section.

Mexican Duck  (Anas diazi)  (10 / 10)
    2023-11 - 14 Mar 2023 - East Canyon Reservior, Morgan Co., by Weston Smith  (Adult Male, Photos & videos)  2nd round: 8 acc

    2023-15 - 23 Apr - 22 May 2023 - Powell Lake, Utah Co., by Marissa Reay  (Adult Male, Photos)  2nd round: 8 acc, 1 not
     "Given that there are unlikely to be *any* "pure" Mexican Ducks in Utah, and keeping in mind precedent set by this committee on this species, I fail to see any features here that would rule out a "pure" Mexican Duck. The slightly pale tail feathers are well within range of variation in presumably pure Mexican Duck in Mexico, and not pale enough for a typical Mallard. There is no sign of any tail curl. I think the "apparent" darkness of the upper tail coverts (is this even a reliable field mark?) is shadow, and not actual color."  ~ M. Stackhouse

Common Ground Dove  (Columbina passaria)  (1 / 6)

2023-66 - Common Ground-Dove by Glenn Kinkaid

    2023-66 - 14 Oct 2023 - Cottonwood Bend Ranch, Grand Co., by Steve Heinrich  (male, Glenn Kinkaid Photos)  1st round: 9 acc

Yellow-billed Cuckoo  (Coccyzus americanus)  (2 / 7)
    2023-57 - 8-11 Jun 2023 - Rio Mesa Field Station, Grand  Co., by Kyle Kittelberger  (one or two, Photo)  1st round: 9 acc

    2023-34 - 19 Jul 2023 - Clay Marsh (south of Pruess Lake), Millard Co., by Ben Stradling  (adult, Audio)  1st round: 9 acc

Rivoli's Hummingbird  (Eugenes fulgens)  (0 / 7)

    2023-36 - 17 Jul 2023 - Lytle Ranch Preserve, Washington Co., by Jessica Matyas  (Female, Photos)  2nd: 0 acc, 9 not  (The consensus is that this is a Black-chinned Hummingbird. When there is no point of reference it's easy to misjudge size).
 

Ruff  (Calidris pugnax)  (8 / 13)
    2023-75 - 30 Sep 2023 - Farmington Bay WMA, Davis Co., by Guillaume Passavy, (adult male, Photos)  1st round: 9 acc

Ruddy Turnstone  (Arenaria interpres)  (3 / 19)

2023-60 - Ruddy Turnstone by Max Malmquist

2023-55 - Wandering Tattler by Renee Tressler

2023-41 - Long-tailed Jaeger  by James Loveless

    2023-16 - 12-21 May 2023 - Antelope Island Causeway, Davis Co., by Bryant Olsen  (3 Adults,  Photos)  1st round: 9 acc

    2023-59 - 25 Sep 2023 - Antelope Island Causeway, Davis  Co., by Bryant Olsen  (one, Photos)  1st round: 9 acc

    2023-60 - 26 Sep 2023 - Willard Spur WMA, Box Elder  Co., by Max Malmquist  (one, Photos)  1st round: 9 acc

Buff-breasted Sandpiper  (Calidris subruficollis)  (3 / 7)
    2023-56 - 24 Sep 2023 - Willard Spur WMA, Box Elder  Co., by Quinn Diaz  (one, Photos)  2nd round:  9 acc

Wandering Tattler  (Heteroscelus incanus)  (2 / 6)
    2023-55 - 23 Sep 2023 - Fish Springs NWR, Juab  Co., by Renee Tressler  (one, Photos)  1st round: 9 acc

Red Phalarope  (Phalaropus fulicarius)  (14 / 29)
    2023-76 - 12 Nov - 9 Dec 2023 - Antelope Island Causeway, Davis Co., by Bryant Olsen, (adult, Photos)  1st round: 9 acc

    2023-78 - 14 Oct 2023 - Pruess Reservoir, Millard Co., by David Wheeler, (one, Photos)  1st round: 9 acc

Parasitic Jaeger  (Stercorarius parasiticus)  (8 / 19)

    2023-49 - 10 Sep 2023 - Antelope Island Causeway, Davis Co., by Quinn Diaz   (Juvenile Photos)  1st round: 9 acc

    2023-50 - 12 Sep 2023 - Antelope Island Causeway, Davis Co., by Bryant Olsen   (Juvenile Photos)  1st round:9 acc

    2023-52 - 17-28 Sep 2023 - Willard Spur, Box Elder  Co., by Bryant Olsen  (Juvenile, Photos by Kris Purdy)  2nd round:  9 acc

Long-tailed Jaeger  (Stercorarius longicaudis)  (9 / 18)
    2023-41 - 11-19 Aug 2023 - Quichapa Lake, Iron Co., by James Loveless   (One, Photos)  1st round: 9 acc

    2023-47 - 4 Sep 2023 - Antelope Island Causeway, Davis Co., by Bryant Olsen   (Juvenile, Photos)   2nd round 8 acc, 1 not
     " Important field marks: The undertail coverts, the amount of white on the upperside of the wings, the primary projection, the size of the bill, and overall color tone could all be seen even at this distance. Add to that the behavior and flight style. Some of these field marks, such as the bill size, primary projection and overall color tone can be seen in the photos, which add some evidence to verify the field evaluation of this Jaeger. Difficult-yes, but impossible? No. ~ B. Olsen

Western Gull  (Larus occidentalis)  (3 / 14)
    2023-08 - 5 Feb 2023 - Farmington Bay WMA, Davis Co., by Ian Batterman  (3rd year, Photos)  2nd round: 0 acc, 8 not (The consensus was that this most likely is a Lesser Black-backed Gull which sometimes retain pink legs late into the immature stages).

Slaty-backed Gull (Larus schistisagus)  (0 / 0)
    2023-09 - 5 Feb 2023 - Farmington Bay WMA, Davis Co., by Ian Batterman  (Adult or 3rd year, Photos)   2nd round: 0 acc, 8 not (The consensus was that this most likely is a Lesser Black-backed Gull which sometimes retain pink legs late into the immature stages).

Tri-colored Heron  (Egretta tricolor)  (2 / 5)

2023-67 -Tri-colored Heron by Kay VanDrimmelen

2023-31 - Zone-tailed Hawk by Mike Schijf

2023-62 - Boreal Owl  by Jeff Cooper

2023-26 - Red-headed Woodpecker by Angie Branch

2023-25 - Scissor-tailed Flycatcher by Kenny Frisch

2023-14 - Yellow-throated Vireo by Van Strohm

     2023-67 - 8 Sep 2023 - Goose Egg Island, [Davis] Co., by Kay VanDrimmelen (two, Photos)  2nd round: 9 acc

White Ibis  (Eudocimus albus)  (3 / 4)
    2023-43 - 13-15 Aug 2023 - Quichapa Lake, Iron Co., by Becky Bonebrake: Nathaniel Nye   (Juvenile, Photos)  1st round: 9 acc

Gray Hawk  (Buteo plagiatus)  (1 / 2)
    2023-68 - 20 Oct 2023 - Roy, Weber Co., by Breclyn Everett  (one, Photos)  1st round:  0 acc, 9 not (The consensus is that this bird is an accipiter rather than a buteo).

Red-shouldered Hawk  (Buteo lineatus) (3 / 18) 

    2023-01 - 2-14 Jan 2023 - Boulder, Garfield Co., by Ryan McDermott  (juvenile, Photos)   1st round: 9 acc
    2023-06 - 6-19 Feb 2023 - Spanish Fork, Utah Co.     by Jeff Cooper  (1st year?, Photo)  1st round: 9 acc

Zone-tailed Hawk  (Buteo albonotatus)  (22 / 31)

    2023-22 - 8 Apr 2023 - South of Hurricane, Washington Co., by Dale Cottrell  (Two ? juveniles)  1st round: 0 acc, 8 not (The description was not enough to eliminate this bird from other similar species).

    2023-31 - 1 Jul 2023 - Pine Valley Mountains, Washington Co., by Mike Schijf  (adult, Photo)  1st round: 9 acc

    2023-39 - 16 Jul 2023 Lava Point Road, Washington Co., by Thomas E Wurster & Liga Auzins Wurster  (Adult)  1st round: 9 acc

    2023-42 - 9 Aug 2023 - Kolob Terrace Road, Washington Co., by James Loveless   (One, Photos)  1st round: 9 acc

Elf Owl  (Micrathene whitneyi)  (0 / 1)
    2023-45 - 16 Aug 2023 Lytle Ranch, Washington Co., by Von Welch  (One or more, Audio page )  2nd round: 0 acc, 9 not (The audio alone did not eliminate the possibilities of other species, especial Long-eared Owl).

Boreal Owl  (Aegolius funereus)  ( 12 / 16)
    2023-62 - 14 Sep - 20 Oct 2023 - Murdock Basin Road, Wasatch Co., by Jeff Cooper  (two adults, Photos)  1st round: 9 acc

    2023-63 - 28 Sep - 7 Oct 2023 - Near Pitt & Page Hill, Summit Co., by Jeff Cooper  (two adults, Photos)  1st round: 9 acc
     "Boreal Owl records are something of a formality to continue to add the data points, but I think they're important as we don't have that many years of data."   ~ K. Purdy

Red-headed Woodpecker  (Melanerpes erythrocephalus)  (3 / 11)

    2023-26 - 9 Jun 2023 - Salt Lake International Center, Salt Lake Co., by Angie Branch  (adult, Photos)  1st round: 9 acc

    2023-32 - 4 Jul 2023 - Logan Canyon, Cache Co., by Casey Richardson  (adult)  3rd: 5 acc, 4 not

Acorn Woodpecker  (Melanerpes formicivorus)  ( 1 / 10)

    2023-84 - 16 Dec 2023 - Cabin Spring - Zion West Rim Trail, Washington Co., by Paul Jaussi, (eight, Photos)  1st round: 8 acc

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker  (Sphyrapicus varius)  (22 / 30)

    2023-40 - 28 Jul 2023 Alpine Loop Road, Utah Co., by Daxton Bryce  (Adult, Audio page )  1st round: 0 acc, 9 not (The audio is not enough to eliminate the possibility of a similar species - in particular the Red-naped Sapsucker).

    2023-70 - 29 Oct 2023 - Graphton, Washington Co., by Lucy Ormond  (adult male)  1st round: 0 acc, 8 not (The write-up in this record didn't eliminate the possibility of similar species or of a hybrid).

    2023-81 - 27 Sept 2023 - Lytle Ranch, Washington Co., by Dennis D. Austin  (adult male & female)  2nd round 0 acc, 9 not (There were not enough details in this record to eliminate the possibility of a Red-naped Sapsucker or a hybrid).

    2023-83 - 19 Nov 2023 - Ivins Reservoir, Washington Co., by Colin Maguire, (immature? male?, Photos)  2nd round 0 acc, 9 not (The molting pattern for this bird indicates hybridization with Red-naped Sapsucker - a very interesting record).

    2023-86 - 23 Dec 2023 - Virgin, Washington Co., by Mike Schijf, (adult female, Photos)  1st round: 9 acc
     "Exceptional record because most YBSA in Utah are juveniles, and may be the 1st Utah record of the so called black-crowned morph female."  ~B. Olsen

Scissor-tailed Flycatcher  (Tyrannus forficatus)  (6 / 15)

    2023-25 - 4-11 Jun 2023 - Mission Rd, Bluff, San Juan Co., by Kenny Frisch  (male & female, Photos)  1st round: 9 acc

Eastern Phoebe  (Sayornis phoebe)  (7 / 24))
    2023-13 - 13-16 Apr 2023 - Oquirrh Lake, Salt Lake Co., by Bryant Olsen  (One, Photos)  1st round: 9 acc

    2023-18 - 6-7 Apr 2022 - Salt Lake City, Salt Lake Co., by David Wheeler  (One, Photos by  Lauri Taylor)  1st round: 9 acc

Yellow-throated Vireo  (Vireo flavifrons)  (3 / 7))
    2023-14 - 27 Apr 2023 - Pine Valley, Washington Co., by Van Strohm  (One, Photos)  1st round: 9 acc
     "Photos clearly show a YTVI. I went and looked for this bird a week later, odd habitat for a migrant, high elevation mixed conifer forest with snow nearby, but this guys has feeders with hundreds of birds on them, especially finches, so the vireo must have came in to see what all the fuss was about then split." ~ B. Olsen

   2023-24 - 17 May 2023 - Kolob Terrace Road, Springdale, Washington Co., by Jon & Carolyn Grainger 
        (assumed adult male, audio)  2nd round: 0 acc, 9 not (The audio recording alone was not enough to eliminate other similar species).

Philadelphia Vireo  (Vireo philadelphicus)  (5 / 7)
    2023-07 - 26 Aug 2022 - Tonaquint Nature Center, Washington Co., by  Ian Batterman   (adult) 1st round: 0 acc, 7 not (The description of the bird did not eliminate Warbling Vireo as a possibility).

Winter Wren  (Troglodytes hiemalis)  (14 / 15)
    2023-10 - 12 Jan 2023 - Red Butte Garden, Salt Lake Co., by Kenny Frisch  (AHY, Photos)   1st round:  7 acc

    2023-21 - 5-13 Feb 2022 - City Creek Canyon, Salt Lake Co., by David Wheeler  (?adult, Photos)  1st round: 8 acc
     "- description of the calls fits Winter Wren better than Pacific, and the photos show an individual that appears outside of the range of variation for Pacific Wren, and solidly in the "only Winter Wren" range for general paleness." ~ M. Stackhouse
     2023-72 - 31 Oct - 4 Nov 2023 - Brooks Nature Park, Washington Co., by Mike Schijf (one, Photos)  1st round: 9 acc

2023-37 - Curve-billed Thrasher by James Loveless

2023-85 - Purple Finch  by Mike Hearell

Curve-billed Thrasher  (Toxostoma Curvirostre)  (1 / 3)

    2023-37 - 26 Jul - 26 Sep 2023 - Fish Springs NWR, Juab Co., by Terry Reid & by Renee Tressler   (Adult, Photos)  1st round:  8 acc
     " Bill too decurved to be Bendire's and orangey eye color vs yellow also favor CBTH. But the laser beam calls leave absolutely no doubt."  B. Olsen

Brown Thrasher  (Toxostoma rufum)  (12 / 32))
    2023-12 - 27 Mar 2023 - Farmington, Davis Co., by Melissa & Spencer Aston  (One, Photos)  1st round: 8 acc

Bendire's Thrasher  (Toxostoma bendirei)  (1 / 10)
    2023-35 - 2 Jun 2022 -Lytle Ranch, Washington Co., by Sylvia Potter  (one)   1st round:  0 acc, 9 not (There were not enough details provided in this record to eliminate the possibility of similar species).

Wood Thrush  (Hylocichla mustelina)  (1 / 5))
    2023-19 - 16 May 2023 - Sugarhouse, Salt Lake City, Salt Lake Co., by David Wheeler  (Adult)  1st round: 9 acc

    2023-27 - 10 May 2023 - Salt Lake City, Salt Lake Co., by Darren Hall  (one)  2nd: 0 acc, 9 not (After sharing concerns, it was decided that similar species were not quite eliminated by the description in the documentation).

Purple Finch  (Haemorphous purpureus)  (6 / 7)

    2023-65 - 15 Sep 2023 - Fish Springs NWR, Juab Co., by Erin Hettinger  (Audio1, Audio2)  2nd round 6 acc, 3 not
     A dissenting comment on a difficult record:  "I still don't think that there's enough here to rule out Cassin's Finch, in spite of the assertions giving in certain publications, and certainly not enough evidence to accept a record of this rarity and difficulty." M. Stackhouse

    2023-82 - 27 Sep 2023 - Near Lytle Ranch, Washington Co., by Dennis D. Austin  (adult male)  0 acc, 9 not

    2023-85 - 16-25 Dec 2023 - West Warren Cemetery, Weber Co., by Mike Hearell, (Female/HY male?, Photos)  1st round:  9 acc

White-winged Crossbill  (Loxia leucoptera)  (2 / 2)

    2023-33 - 9 Jul - 30 Sep 2023 - Redman Campground, Salt Lake Co., by Quinn Diaz (four birds, Photos, Audio)  1st round: 9 acc

    2023-53 - 21 Sep 2023 - Alta, Salt Lake  Co., by Bryant Olsen  (Adult male, Photos)  1st round:  9 acc

     "It has been quite the invasion year for both species of North American crossbills."  ~ D. Wheeler.

Chestnut-collared Longspur  (Calcarius ornatus)  (4 / 8)
    2023-03   (after being reviewed, #2023-05 was added to this record)   9 Jan - 7 Mar 2023 - Blue Creek Valley, Box Elder Co. by Bryant Olsen  (adult male, Photos)  1st round: 9 acc

    2023-05  (same sighting as  #2023-03)  19 Jan - 19 Feb 2023 - Howell (in Blue Creek Valley), Box Elder Co., by Terry Reid  (male, Photos)  1st round: 9 acc

Lark Bunting  (Calamospiza melanocorys) (3 / 7)

    2023-30 - 15 Jun 2023 - Decker Lake, Salt Lake Co., by Decker Lake  (immature male, Photos)  2nd round: 9 acc
      "I am not confident based on photos A & B (thought Fox Sparrow was a possibility). However, photos D/D1 appear to show the broad white edges on the greater coverts, which would seem to rule out Fox Sparrow and other similar species. The dark streaking on the sides and head pattern in the profile view also appear to be consistent with LARB."  ~ M. Schijf

    2023-61 - 10 Sep 2023 - Garr Ranch, Davis  Co., by Colin Maguire  (juv./female, Photos)  1st round: 9 acc

Bell's Sparrow  (Artemisiopiza belli)  (1 / 1)

    2023-54 - 11 Aug 2023 - Lytle Ranch Access Road, Washington Co., by Dennis Austin  (adult)  1st round: 0 acc, 9 not (This record didn't have enough, for the Committee to eliminate other similar species that would be more likely in this area).
 

Canyon Towhee  (Melozone fusca)  (0 / 2)

    2023-74 - 26 Oct 2023 - Snow Canyon Nature Park, Washington Co., by Dan Lory, (one, Photos)  2nd round 1 acc, 8 not (This was a close call for most, with some hints of greenish tint indicating Green-tailed Towhee and not quite clear distinguishing characteristics of Canyon Towhee visible in the photos, similar species could not be sufficiently eliminated).

2023-17 - Baltimore Oriole  by Jeff Lauersdorf & Debbie Savage

2023-48 - Tennessee Warbler by Weston Smith

2023-64 - Connecticut Warbler by Kyle Kittelberger

2023-77 - Magnolia Warbler by Lauri Taylor

2023-51 - Blackburnian Warbler by  James Loveless

2023-23 - Chestnut-sided Warbler by Kyle Kittelburger

2023-73 - Palm Warbler  by Mary McGreal

2023-80 -  Hepatic Tanager by Carel Brest van Kempen

2023-44 - Scarlet Tanager by Julie Dickerson

Baltimore Oriole  (Icterus galbula)  (6 / 9))
    2023-17 - 14 May 2023 - Escalante, Garfield Co., by Jeff Lauersdorf, Debbie Savage  (Adult male,  Photos)  1st round: 9 acc
     "The very irregular lower border of the black hood concerned me until I reviewed many images of adult males from an area far from the hybrid zone (Maryland) that also showed significant variation to the lower hood border. I can't see any other orange intrusion into the hood and the remaining Baltimore characters appear strong."  K. Purdy

Rusty Blackbird  (Euphagus carolinus)  (15 / 23)

    2023-04 - 27 Dec - 15 Jan 2022 - Torrey, Wayne Co., by Walter Wehtje  (adult male, Photos)  2nd round: 9 acc

Ovenbird  (Seiurus aurocapilla)  (11 / 30)

    2023-28 - 23 May 2023 - Bonneville Shoreline Trail, North Ogden, Weber  Co., by Kris Purdy  (Audio1, Audio2)  1st round: 9 acc

    2023-29 - 13-14 Jun 2023 - Butterfield Canyon, Salt Lake Co., by Bryant Olsen  (Photos)  1st round: 9 acc

     2023-71 - 22 Oct 2023 - Third District Courthouse bldg. SLC, Salt Lake Co., by Bryant Olsen (one, Photo)  1st round: 8 acc

Worm-eating Warbler  (Helmitheros vermivorum)  (1 / 4)

    2023-38 - 18 May 2023 Capitol Reef National Park, Wayne Co., by Craig Benkman  (One)  1st round: 8 acc
     "I think the description of the striped head and orange-buff color, and especially the behavior of searching for insects in the bark and under the leaves indicate this to be a Worm-eating Warbler."  ~ K. Wheeler

Tennessee Warbler  (Leiothlypis peregrina)  (18 / 22)
    2023-20 - 21 May 2023 - Price, Carbon Co., by Carl Ingwell  (Adult male, Audio)  1st round: 8 acc

    2023-48 - 5 Sep 2023 - Peterson DWR property, Morgan Co., by Kristin Purdy   (Juv., Weston Smith Photos)  1st round: 8 acc

    2023-79 - 16 Sep 2023 - Airport Road near Manila, Daggett Co., by David Wheeler, (one, Photo)  1st round: 9 acc

    2023-58 - 27 Sep 2023 - Liberty Park, Salt Lake Co., by Bryant Olsen  (one, Photos by Felicia Alvarez)  1st round: 9 acc

Connecticut Warbler  (Oporornis agilis)  (1 / 3)

    2023-64 - 7 Oct 2023 - Rio Mesa Field Station, Grand Co., by Kyle Kittelberger  (first year, Photos)  1st round: 8 acc
     "Great record of a very rare species for west of the Rockies (especially for anywhere outside of California)."  ~ M. Schijf

Magnolia Warbler  (Setophaga magnolia)  (7 / 17)

    2023-77 - 29-31 Oct 2023 - Brooks NP, St. George, Washington Co., by David Wheeler, (imm. female, Photos)  1st round: 9 acc

Blackburnian Warbler  (Setophaga fusca)  (2 / 2)

    2023-51 - 13 Sep 2023 - River Lane, Utah Co., by Steve Clark & James Loveless   (Fem. / Juv. Photos)  1st round: 9 acc
     "It is unfortunate that both photos of the side of the head obscure the same portion of the face. But the tail pattern, back color, shape of cheek patch, and white under-eye crescent are convincing."  ~D. Wheeler

Chestnut-sided Warbler  (Setophaga pensylvanica)  (13 / 31)
    2023-23 - 20 May 2023 - Rio Mesa Field Station, Grand  Co., by Kyle Kittelburger  (SY male, Photos)  1st round: 9 acc
 

Blackpoll Warbler  (Setophaga striata)  (8 / 22)
    2023-69 - 19 Oct 2023 - Antelope Island SP, Davis Co., by John Kip Robinson (one, Photos)  1st round: 8 acc

Palm Warbler  (Setophaga palmarum)  ( 15 / 29)

    2023-73 - 4-5 Nov 2023 - Bountiful Pond, Davis Co., by Mary McGreal; Vivian Schneggenburger, (one, Photos by Connie Misket and Mary McGreal)  1st round: 9 acc
     "The white tail spot noted by others and visible in some photos helps cinch the case against similar species like pipits."  ~ D. Wheeler

Hepatic Tanager  (Piranga flava)  (1 / 1)

    2023-80 - 27 Nov - 13 Dec 2023 - West Valley City, Salt Lake Co., by Carel Brest van Kempen, (immature male, Photo)  1st round: 9 acc    [First State Record]
         "I have often wondered if these are wandering into Utah and going undetected. Given that there are HETA records from Jacob Lake, Mount Trumbull, and Black Rock Mountain, AZ, and more recently, from the Virgin Mountains just south of Mesquite, NV (potential breeding pair), I am surprised that it has taken this long to get our first Utah record. I am also quite surprised that our state first is from the Salt Lake area rather than Washington/Kane/Iron Counties..."  ~ M. Schijf

Scarlet Tanager  (Piranga olivacea)  (4 / 10)

    2023-44 - 3 Aug 2023 - Taylorsville, Salt Lake Co., by Julie Dickerson   (Male, Photos)  1st round: 8 acc

Painted Bunting  (Passerina ciris)  (5 / 8)
    2023-46 - 24 Aug 2023 - Rio Mesa Center, Grand Co., by Caroline Wolfe-Merritt   (HY?, Photos)  2nd round 9 acc
     "I think Mark and David addressed the issue of provenance nicely, citing location, date, age and feather color. In addition, I think a bird confined to a cage would show a wear pattern on the tip of its tail that this bird doesn't show. The longest two retrices on the left side of the tail are intact at the tip and barely frayed, and a couple outer retrices on the right side show only minimal wear."  ~ K. Purdy

* The heading photo is of a Hepatic Tanager
   by Carel Brest van Kempen  (Record 2023-80)