Verification of Unusual
Sight Record
For Utah
Rec. # 2002-25
| Common name: |
Vaux's Swift |
| Scientific name: | Chaetura vauxi |
| Date: | 5/23/2002 |
| Time: |
Between 11:00am and 12:30pm |
| Length of time observed: |
~15 minutes total including both sightings |
| Number: | 1@River Ln., 3@Swede Ln. |
| Age: | Adult |
| Sex: | |
| Location: | West of Springville, River Lane near mouth of Spanish Fork River, Swede Lane |
| County: | Utah |
| Latilong: | |
| Elevation: | |
| Distance to bird: | 20 to 30 feet up |
| Optical equipment: |
Pentax 10x42 DCF WP Binoculars, Pentax 8x42 DCF WP Binoculars |
| Weather: | Mostly Sunny |
| Light Conditions: | Bright |
| Detailed description of bird: |
Short-winged, short-tailed swift. Dark gray-brown back and wings. Slightly paler brown underparts. Rapid wing beats. |
| Song or call & method of delivery: | Not heard. |
| Behavior: | Flying and circling overhead, just above the treetops at River Ln. The one bird flew overhead 5 times. At Swede Ln. the 3 birds were flying and circling about 30 feet up. They were visible for a few minutes and then flew higher. A few minutes later they were again circling overhead for 2 to 3 minutes and then flew off to the north out of sight. |
| Habitat: |
South shore of Utah Lake. Riparian area at mouth of Spanish Fork River. More desert-like habitat at Swede Ln. |
| Similar
species and how were they eliminated: |
White-throated swifts have very distinctive markings, are larger, and have
slower wing beats. Black swifts are larger, with longer wings, and slower wing beats. |
| Previous experience with this & similar species: | Experience_with_Species: We've seen many White-throated Swifts in Utah and in other states. We've also seen quite a few Black Swifts in Utah as well as in other spots. We've seen several Vaux's Swifts in Washington, Oregon, and California. Our most recent sighting of Vaux's Swifts was in Lehi, Utah a few years ago. |
| References consulted: | The Sibley Guide to Birds |
| Description from: | From memory |
| Observer: | Joel and Kathy 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: |
6/29/202 (General Public) |
| Additional material: | |