Verification of Unusual
Sight Record
For Utah
Rec. # 2003-42
| Common name: |
Black-throated Blue Warbler |
| Scientific name: | Dendroica caerulescens |
| Date: | 10-18-03 |
| Time: | 1:00 PM |
| Length of time observed: | 10 minutes |
| Number: | 1 |
| Age: | Adult |
| Sex: | Female |
| Location: | Lytle Ranch |
| County: | Washington |
| Latilong: | |
| Elevation: | |
| Distance to bird: | 15 to 20 feet |
| Optical equipment: | 10 x 42 B & L Elites |
| Weather: | Mostly clear with a light wind |
| Light Conditions: | Good mid day light |
| Detailed description of bird: | The bird was a Warbler. The entire upperparts were brownish olive but the crown had a bluish tint to it. The uppertail coverts were bluish.Which I saw when it's wings were spread while picking insects off the tree trunk. It had a distinct white supercilium and white arc below the eye. The auriculars were a darker brownish olive that sharply contrasted with the white throat and malar area. The wings were dark with olive edges to the primarys, secondaries and the wing coverts. The bend of the wing was black looking and there was a good sized white patch at the base of the primarys. The underparts were a strong buffy yellow color with the flanks a little darker looking. The upper side of the tail had some bluish color to it also. |
| Song or call & method of delivery: | The bird was making a soft tik call.Which sounds a lot like a Dark-eyed Junco. |
| Behavior: | It was feeding very deliberatly within ten feet of the ground. It spend some time picking insects from the fork in a tree and at times would just stop and look at me from 15 feet away at eye level. |
| Habitat: | Tall ash trees and smaller plum trees and other bushes in the middle of desert srcub habitat. |
| Similar
species and
how were they eliminated: |
With good views it is a very distinct looking Warbler. The strong head pattern
and the white patch at the base of the primarys is unlike any other warbler. |
| Previous
experience with this & similar species: |
I have only saw female Black-throated Blues a couple of times. But they are very
distinct birds if you have the time to watch them as I did this bird. |
| References consulted: | Dunn & Garrett Warblers and the Sibley guide |
| Description from: | Notes made later |
| Observer: | Larry Tripp |
| Observer's address: | 131 N. Butch Cassidy Trail Central, Utah 84722 |
| Observer's e-mail address: | LTRIPP29@hotmail.com |
| Other observers who independently identified this bird: | |
| Date prepared: | 11-04-03 (General Public) |
| Additional material: | |
| Additional comments: |