Verification of Unusual
Sight Record
For Utah
Rec. # 2003-34
| Common name: |
Zone-tailed Hawk |
| Scientific name: | Buteo albonotatus |
| Date: | 08-25-03 |
| Time: | 1800 hrs |
| Length of time observed: | 3-5 minutes |
| Number: | 1 |
| Age: | Adult |
| Sex: | |
| Location: | Lava Point, Zion National Park |
| County: | Washington |
| Latilong: | 19 |
| Elevation: | 3384 |
| Distance to bird: | 50-100 m |
| Optical equipment: |
10 x 42 Leica binoculars |
| Weather: | overcast and calm |
| Light Conditions: | good diffused light |
| Detailed description of bird: |
A large raptor (about 3/4 or 4/5th the size of nearby Turkey
Vultures) with long
narrow wings and a long tail. Body and inner wing linings black; Wings all dark
grey/ black above. Underwings with vermiculated remiges and a thin black outer border, and
splayed primary tips. Yellow cere and legs very obvious with close view in good light. Long broad tail
(much longer than
legs); top of tail with two grayish white bands; undertail with broad white band and a broad black terminal band. (see photo) |
| Song or call & method of delivery: | |
| Behavior: | Soaring with two Turkey Vultures over valley north of the Lava Point Campground. Flight behavior similar to Turkey Vulture with wings held in dihedral and splayed primary tips. |
| Habitat: | Spruce-fir, Ponderosa, meadows, and reservoirs. |
| Similar
species and
how were they eliminated: |
Common Black-Hawk distinguished by short tail, long
legs reaching nearly to the end of the tail, and very broad wings.
Other dark-morph buteos eliminated by shape, length of tail, and underwing and
tail pattern. |
| Previous
experience with this & similar species: |
This is the third Zone-tailed Hawk I've seen in
Washington County. |
| References consulted: | |
| Description from: | Notes taken at time of sighting |
| Observer: | Rick Fridell |
| Observer's address: | 3505 West 290 North, Hurricane, UT |
| Observer's e-mail address: |
rfridell@redrock.net |
| Other observers who independently identified this bird: | No other observers on this date, however see comments below. |
| Date prepared: |
10-02-03 (General Public) |
| Additional material: | Photo |
| Additional comments: | Unfortunately my camera was running out of batteries and I managed only one very blurry photo. An adult Zone-tailed Hawk was observed soaring over nearby Kolob Reservoir on 5-25-03 by John Schijf. Also there were many additional Zone-tailed Hawk sightings in SW Utah this year: Silver Reef, 04-30-03, R. Fridell; I-15 Kanarraville Rest Area, 06-01-03, S. & P. Summers; Baker Reservoir, 6-10-03, L. Tripp; and Virgin River, St. George, 06-27-03, K. Wheeler et al. |