Verification of Unusual
Sight Record
For Utah
Rec. # 2003-19
| Common name: |
Painted Redstart |
| Scientific name: | Myioborus pictus |
| Date: | 5/4/03 |
| Time: | Midday |
| Length of time observed: | ~ 10 minutes |
| Number: | 1 |
| Age: | Adult |
| Sex: | ? |
| Location: | Zion National Park, ~0.5 mile north of Temple of Sinawava (Riverside Walk) |
| County: | ? [Washington] |
| Latilong: | ? |
| Elevation: | ~4400 feet |
| Distance to bird: | ~50 feet |
| Optical equipment: | Bausch & Lomb Elite 10x40 binoculars |
| Weather: | Partly cloudy |
| Light Conditions: | Good light on bird |
| Detailed description of bird: |
General impression of a warbler based on size and shape. Black hood, upperparts,
and wings. Thin white crescents below eyes (but not above). Thin black bill.
Bright red belly. Whitish undertail coverts. Large white patches on upperwing
coverts. Underside of tail white. Upperside of tail black. Legs dark. (see photo) |
| Song or call & method of delivery: | Song 2-3 parted. Unfamiliar to me but clearly sounded like a warbler song based on my experience with the common warblers of California. The song is what first drew my attention to the bird (expecting to see a warbler). |
| Behavior: | Mostly perched in one place while it sang. At one point it moved around, hopping along branches and moving tail from side to side with each hop (tail not spread). |
| Habitat: | In underside of canopy of cottonwood tree near trail. Tree was in narrow canyon with cliffs for sides and a river running through it. |
| Similar
species and how were they eliminated: |
This is a pretty unmistakable species based on the black hood, red belly, white
wing patch, white in tail, and white crescent under eye. These features eliminate American Redstart and Slate-throated Redstart (which lacks white wing patch and white crescent under eye). |
| Previous experience with this & similar species: | I have limited experience with this species in Mexico along with Slate-throated Redstart. I've seen several American Redstarts in California. |
| References consulted: | The Sibley Guide to Birds. National Geographic Birds of North America. |
| Description from: | Notes made later |
| Observer: | Alan Wight and Shelly Hernandez |
| Observer's address: | 1940 Bristol St., Petaluma, CA 94954 |
| Observer's e-mail address: | shwand@sonic.net |
| Other
observers who independently identified this bird: |
None |
| Date prepared: | 6/4/03 (General Public) |
| Additional material: | Photo |
| Additional comments: | I hiked past this location a second time on 5/4/03 and then twice more on 5/7/03 and did not see the bird again. |