Verification of Unusual
Sight Record
For Utah
Rec. # 2002-22
| Common name: |
Clay-colored Sparrow |
| Scientific name: | Spizella pallida |
| Date: | 5/14/2002 and 5/15/2002 |
| Time: | 3:30pm (5/14), 10:00am (5/15) |
| Length of time observed: | ~15 min. (5/14), ~10 min. (5/15) |
| Number: | 1 |
| Age: | Adult Breeding |
| Sex: | |
| Location: | Dixie Red Hills Golf Course, St. George |
| County: | Washington |
| Latilong: | |
| Elevation: | |
| Distance to bird: | 5 to 10 yards |
| Optical equipment: | Pentax 10x42 DCF WP, Pentax 8x42 DCF WP |
| Weather: | Sunny, hot |
| Light Conditions: | Bright sun. |
| Detailed description of bird: |
Tan-brown crown with black streaks and white central stripe. Distinct white supercilium and malar areas. Tan-brown cheek with dark line along top edge and bottom edge. Dark line between white malar area and whitish-gray throat. Light colored bill. Gray nape. Tan-brown back with dark streaks. Tan-brown rump without streaks. Breast and underparts grayish-white with no central breast spot or streaking. |
| Song or call & method of delivery: | Not heard. |
| Behavior: | Feeding and hopping in grass and lower branches of trees with about 20 Chipping Sparrows. |
| Habitat: | Grassy, treed area near small stream. |
| Similar
species and how were they eliminated: |
Breeding plumaged Chipping Sparrows seen nearby had rufous cap, gray cheek and
grayer breast than Clay-colored Sparrow. Based on distinctive bright facial markings of the breeding plumaged Clay-colored Sparrow, there are no other birds that are similar. |
| Previous experience with this & similar species: | Seen in nine different states and Canadian provinces since 1990. Saw several in North Dakota in 1999. |
| References consulted: | The Sibley Guide to Birds National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America |
| Description from: | From memory |
| 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: | 6/29/2002 (General Public) |
| Additional material: | |