Verification of Unusual
Sight Record
For Utah
Rec. # 2004-42
| Common name: |
Scarlet Tanager |
| Scientific name: | Piranga olivacea |
| Date: | 11/13/04 |
| Time: | 8:00 AM and 5:00 PM |
| Length of time observed: | 45 sec. and 8 min. |
| Number: | 2 (AM) and 1 (PM) |
| Age: | |
| Sex: | |
| Location: | Daystar Adventist Academy, Castle Valley, Utah |
| County: | Grand |
| Latilong: | 109-23 / 38-38 |
| Elevation: | 4800 ft |
| Distance to bird: | 15 ft |
| Optical equipment: | Wind River 8 x 42 binoculars |
| Weather: | Partly cloudy |
| Light Conditions: | Daylight |
| Detailed description of bird: | Olive green head, back and rump. The green on the head extends below the eye. Underparts all yellow with a little white just below wing. Very dark (almost black) wings and tail. Light horizontal lines on wings where feathers come together. Dark eye with yellow eye ring. Notched tail, not very long. Wingtips extend just past the green rump. Sparrow type light bill. Dark legs. (see photo) |
| Song or call & method of delivery: | None |
| Behavior: |
Came to water 3 times in AM. Eating among sunseeds and cracked corn on ground
under feeder in PM. Stayed within 1 ft of feeder pole. Didn't scratch, hopped a few times . |
| Habitat: |
Chased a spotted towhee away. Remained after all other birds left. Came from cottonwood tree to water and feeder. |
| Similar
species and
how were they eliminated: |
Western Tanager- No wingbars, head back and rump same color. Summer Tanager- head back and rump green not mustard brown, bill not large. Hypatic Tanager- No gray cheep patch, no gray wash on flanks |
| Previous
experience with this & similar species: |
Familiar with western tanager |
| References consulted: | National Geographic Birds of North America, Sibleys |
| Description from: | Notes taken at time of sighting |
| Observer: | Tom Harris |
| Observer's address: | HC 64 Box 2201, Castle Valley, Utah 84532 |
| Observer's e-mail address: | utahfarmer@frontiernet.net |
| Other observers who independently identified this bird: | Luther and Waneta Harris |
| Date prepared: | 11/14/04 (General Public) |
| Additional material: | Photo |
| Additional comments: | Smaller than Towhee, larger than house sparrow Comparable size to White-crowned Sparrow just huskier. |