Verification of Unusual
Sight Record
For Utah
Rec. # 2002-21
| Common name: |
Hudsonian Godwit |
| Scientific name: | Limosa haemastica |
| Date: | 4/20/2002 |
| Time: | 10:15am to 11:30am |
| Length of time observed: | 1 hr. 15 min. |
| Number: | 1 |
| Age: | Adult Breeding |
| Sex: | Male |
| Location: | Farmington Bay WMA |
| County: | Davis |
| Latilong: | |
| Elevation: | |
| Distance to bird: | Approx. 150 yards |
| Optical equipment: | Pentax 10x42 DCF WP Binoculars, Pentax 8x42 DCF WP Binoculars, Bausch & Lomb Discoverer Zoom Telescope |
| Weather: | Overcast |
| Light Conditions: | Varied, but fairly bright light filtered through clouds during most of observation time |
| Detailed description of bird: |
The bird was seen with Marbled Godwits and Willets in close proximity, so size
and coloring comparisons were possible and obvious. Overall smaller and darker than Marbled Godwit. Same size as Willet. Long upturned bill (godwit-like), yet obviously shorter billed than Marbled Godwit. Gray face and neck. Darkish cap on top of head. Dark back. Dark rufous breast and flanks extending from neck to legs. Lighter coloring on underparts from legs back to tail, but still appeared mottled rufous in that area. When viewed from the side, the folded wing coverts were unmottled gray and contrasted with the mottled dark gray back (scapulars and mantle). Note that this contrast was not as defined as that pictured in the Sibley Guide to Birds. Instead of a color difference, it appeared more as a contrast between mottled and unmottled feathers. |
| Song or call & method of delivery: | Not heard. |
| Behavior: | Walking and feeding with about 12 Marbled Godwits and about 7 Willets. |
| Habitat: |
Shallow water and mudflat along shore of the Great Salt Lake/Farmington Bay. |
| Similar
species and how were they eliminated: |
Bar-tailed and Black-tailed Godwit both have rufous or orange neck and face. Marbled Godwits nearby were larger, longer billed, lighter colored overall, buffy color with black mottling over most of body. Willets nearby had short straight bills. |
| Previous experience with this & similar species: | We have seen several Hudsonian Godwits in Texas. |
| References consulted: | Sibley Guide to Birds National Geographic Field Guide to North America |
| Description from: | Notes taken at time of sighting |
| Observer: | Kathy and Joel Beyer |
| Observer's address: | 1719 Hillcrest Avenue, Salt Lake City, Utah 84106 |
| Observer's e-mail address: | twobirders@juno.com |
| Other
observers who independently identified this bird: |
|
| Date prepared: | June 22, 2002 (General Public) |
| Additional material: | |