--Records Committee
Utah Ornithological Society
   
Status & Comments
Year 2026 (records 01through ...)

 2026-01  Rusty Blackbird

Evaluator Date Vote Comment
Jeff C. 6 Jan 2026 Acc The description and images confirm the species.
Max M. 14 Jan 2026 Acc Photos definitive, good documentation
Keeli M. 20 Jan 2026 Acc Rusty edging on feathers, face pattern, and description of observed gray rump support ID as RUBL.
Bryant O. 5 Jan 2026 Acc Nice photos of a female
Kris P. 23 Jan 2026 Acc The photos show lots of the definitive features that are distinctive from a Brewer's or female Red-wing, and Matt added that he saw the bird's gray rump.
Dennis S. 9 Jan 2026 Acc Good detailed report, with several observers, and good photos.
Mark S. 14 Jan 2026 Acc Photos are definitive.
David W. 5 Jan 2026 Acc Photos clearly show a female-type Rusty blackbird in winter plumage. The amount of contrast in the face patterning and the buffy/rusty edging to wing feathers is outside the range for the similar immature Brewer's blackbirds. Also, the description of the gray rump is very compelling.
Kevin W. 16 Jan 2026 Acc Combination of light-colored eye, contrasty supercilium, rusty wing-feathers, and gray rump indicate Rusty Blackbird.

 

2026-02  Vermilion Flycatcher

Evaluator Date Vote Comment
Jeff C. 12 Jan 2026 Acc Descriptions and photos confirm Vermilion Flycatcher
Max M. 14 Jan 2026 Acc Nice photos and documentation
Keeli M. 20 Jan 2026 Acc Would have preferred at least a mention of how SAPH was eliminated, but photos show a female VEFL.
Bryant O. 14 Jan 2026 Acc Not sure why VEFL show up at Utah Lake every year but they have been lately. This looks like a HY male? Good Photos.
Kris P. 23 Jan 2026 Acc Strong documentation, particularly 2026-02.
Dennis S. 9 Jan 2026 Acc Submitted photos and prior hotline photos leave no doubt.
Mark S. 14 Jan 2026 Acc Photos show adult female Vermilion Flycatcher.
David W. 8 Jan 2026 Acc Honestly, he had me at "Vermie." The rest was just gravy.
Kevin W. 23 Jan 2026 Acc Photo shows a cute little Vermilion Flycatcher.

  

2026-03  Bronzed Cowbird

Evaluator Date Vote Comment
Jeff C. 27 Jan 2026 To 2nd I've seen only a few Bronzed Cowbirds in Arizona. They are strikingly different from other blackbirds when I've seen them in the field, but the image, and its cropped versions, that we have with this record obscure some important traits. The description and What appears to be a thick-based bill are intriguing to me, but the head size and shape don't seem to eliminate other blackbird species from what I can discern from the images. The crown appears slightly elongated, but that may be impacted by the bird stretching the head forward and downward. I don't think that I'm seeing a ruff on the neck. I'm not sure that I'm seeing the iris of the bird in the images. It almost appears like a lid or nictitating membrane may be covering it, so I'm not able to confirm the red that was described in the written record. Tail shape is not discernable in the image. I'm not sure what to make of one blue spot near a shoulder. The record indicates that blue could be seen on the wing of the bird even in the shade, but I'm not really seeing that in the image we have been presented. I'm not confident that I'm seeing a Bronzed Cowbird, but I'm also hesitant to say no to the ID outright. This is likely the first time I'm voting to send a record to the second round for further discussion, but I'm currently leaning away from the Bronzed Cowbird ID.
Max M. 14 Jan 2026 To 2nd I have some concerns with this record. The single photo is oversaturated and very poor quality. While the write-up is decent, they tend to ID birds from photos after the fact and I am concerned that is the case with this record, despite noting field marks "in the field". With the oversaturation there does appear to be a blue iridescence on the back, the eye appears brownish? or reddish but doesn't seem quite right for Bronzed Cowbird. Are we seeing the eye or the nictitating membrane? It also seems odd that the head looks like an umbrellabird, maybe distortion from the photo? I also find it concerning that the record was submitted 10 days after the observation. Is it possibly a Bronzed Cowbird? Possibly but I am not confident we can rule out other species.
Keeli M. 14  Feb 2026 Acc Picture are a little tough but they do show bird does not have a light eye, and they show what could potentially be a blue flash in the wing. Based on description of observed characteristics, accepting this record.
Bryant O. 14 Jan 2026 No, ID Interesting Blackbird, but inconclusive looks. I'm not seeing any red in the eye, in fact it looks like the eyelid is closed in the photo. Odd he didn't even consider a Red-winged Blackbird, which was not eliminated and has all the field marks described. Its not uncommon for the red to not show. BRCO has not been proven here.
Kris P. 26 Jan 2026 Acc I think the observer made the most of his brief and limited view. The field sketch is very helpful given how strong the impression of the blue iridescence was, but the photo didn't capture it well. The bird's bill and forehead shape is very convincing. I'm not troubled by the eye not appearing red. A bright red eye is that of a breeding male, but a non-breeding male might have a more subdued orange-brown iris and the low light of the photo might not have picked that up. I wish he had included a comment about observing the eye color, but nevertheless, this is a well-documented record.
Dennis S. 21 Jan 2026 Acc Very detailed written report. The description of unique characteristics and comparisons with other blackbirds was thorough and narrowed the decision to accept. The drawing was unique. The photos didn't add much!
Mark S. 14 Jan 2026 Acc  Detailed description seems to rule out similar species. I wish the eye were visible in the photo, but the bird appears to be blinking. However, everything in the photo is consistent with Bronzed Cowbird.
David W. 14 Jan 2026 Acc Compelling and very thorough writeup. Discussions of structure and color all point to this species.
Kevin W. 23 Jan 2026 Acc I wish the photo was better, but it does show the distinct large bill. The description in the submitted report also indicates it had a red iris, something I would hope since the photo doesn't show it (maybe his eye was closed?). The glossy blue wings also are good for Brown-headed.

   

2026-04  Tennessee Warbler

Evaluator Date Vote Comment
Jeff C. 15 Jan 2026 Acc The description lines up well with a first-year Tennessee Warbler with a bit more white on the underside. Similar species are sufficiently eliminated.
Max M. 29 Jan 2026 Acc Nice write-up eliminating similar species.
Keeli M. 14 Feb 2026 Acc Observer's description hits the key points of identification that rule out other species.
Bryant O. 16 Jan 2026 Acc Description hits all the field marks for a TEWA. I'm curious of the age listed as immature male? Fall immatures and females are probably not IDable unless captured.
Kris P. 26 Jan 2026 Acc Lots of good ID points here, especially the bill impression, face pattern, white under-tail coverts, and significant differences from the Orange-crowned present. KC's long observation of the bird through his camera lens in the attempt to capture a photo puts him in a good position to suggest this might be the same bird depicted later in 2025-65.
Dennis S. 21 Jan 2026 Acc Even with the late entry the written report is convincing enough to accept the record. The 4 hour effort spent in the area trying to get a photo but only observing the bird multiple times was impressive!
Mark S. 16 Jan 2026 Acc Excellent description and detailed analysis establishes the i.d. - all important features were seen and noted.
David W. 15 Jan 2026 Acc Not quite sure what some of the eye arc description might have been about, so I will not address it here. But other than my confusion about that, the description sounds like a Tennessee warbler to me. In addition, the observer is a good and experienced birder who found many of the rare birds credibly reported in Utah in 2025.
Kevin W. 23 Jan 2026 Acc  I feel that the description is good for a Tennessee Warbler; especially the white vent.

  

2026-05  Mexican Duck

Evaluator Date Vote Comment
Jeff C. 16 Jan 2026 Acc This appears to be the same individual that was confirmed by the UBRC in 2022. That duck was observed in January as well in essentially the same location (Record 2022-01). If not the same bird, it is essentially identical in its key traits. I am voting to accept this record based on the criteria that have been applied to previous MEDU records by The Committee. I'll share some additional thoughts in case we go to a second round. BirdsoftheWorld.org indicates that MEDUs are about 10% smaller than Mallards. This one is noticeably larger based on checklist images showing the bird next to wild Mallards. I made the same assessment when I observed our current duck in the field. As the volunteer eBird reviewer for Utah County, I saw numerous images of this individual before this record was submitted. The bent tail feathers and what appeared to be a darkish rump caught my attention, but when I explored the species in eBird, I noticed that eBird's featured MEDU photo by Ryan O'Donne
ll (a former UBRC member) was an exact match to our bird, right down to a couple of slightly bent tail feathers and what can look like a darkish rump under certain lighting conditions. There appears to be some tolerance for slight tail curl/bend for MEDU. Here's the link to the image from the Macaulay Library: https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/46186291
Photo C of this record lines up well with the eBird's featured image of MEDU.
In proper lighting, the pale fringed rump feathers are visible (See Photos C and D). Photo D shows the broader blue band and thinner white outer bands expected for a MEDU speculum.
Max M. 29 Jan 2026 Acc Well documented bird
Keeli M. 16 Jan 2026 Acc This bird looks good for a MEDU. No white or curl in tail, clean demarcation between paler head and reddish brown body.
Bryant O. 16 Jan 2026 Acc Looks mostly pure, rump a little dark but that could be some lighting issues. Tail brown without prominent curl. Probably has a Mallard somewhere in its ancestry but so do most ducks
Kris P. 26 Jan 2026 Acc I'm not sure what happened to the Species elimination narrative, but the hybrid elimination in the Field Marks section is strong and the photos are outstanding.
Dennis S. 15 Jan 2026 Acc Most birders of Utah and Salt Lake County have seen this bird and there's no question concerning ID.
Mark S. 16 Jan 2026 Acc Excellent documentation. The photos show classic Mexican Duck features, with none showing signs of a hybrid - a rare, phenotypically "pure" individual for Utah.
David W. 21 Jan 2026 Acc Excellent writeup and photos. This is about as Mexican a duck as we ever get here in Utah. The breast color (and lack of contrast with the flanks), tail color, speculum color, bill color, head contrast, lack of green in head, and lack of significant tail curl all point to Mexican duck. Nice record.
Kevin W. 23 Jan 2026 Acc  I think this bird shows enough traits to be considered a Mexican Duck: Yellow bill, distinct line of color-change from head to neck, no real curly tail feathers, dark undertail coverts with no white.