Sighting Record for Utah

Common name:	Chestnut-sided Warbler
Scientific name:	Dendroica pensylvanica
Date:	August 28, 2006
Time:	About 10:30 or 11:00 A.M.
Length of time observed:	5 Minutes
Number:	1
Age:	First Fall
Sex:	Female?
Location:	Clover Springs Campground
County:	Tooele
Latilong:	?
Elevation:	?
Distance to bird:	Closest view was about 30 feet
Optical equipment:	8x42 Binoculars
Weather:	Clear, Calm and Sunny. ~ 75°
Light Conditions:	The bird was in Full Sun for some of the viewing time. Very good lighting.
Description: Size of bird:	It was about the same size as the Chipping and Brewer's Sparrows that were in the area.
(Description:) Basic Shape:	Shaped like a warbler. Similar to a Yellow Warbler.
(Description:) Overall Pattern:	Yellow-green upper parts. Light gray underneath.
(Description:) Bill Type:	Thin, Short and pointed. Warbler like.
(Description:) Field Marks and Identifying Characteristics:	Face was light gray with a yellow-green cap on the top of the head and a bold uniform white eye-ring. The back was yellow-green from the rump up to the crown with a little green smudging on the areas of the Uppertail coverts and scapulars. The wings were dark gray with bold wing-bars. Tail was dark gray from above. The spread tail had white spots in the outer corners. Chest and belly were a uniform light gray. (See photo).
Song or call & method of delivery:	I think I remember hearing chipping calls but I don t really recall.
Behavior:	I first Saw the bird hopping with its tail cocked up on top of a mat of watercress that was growing at the edge of the stream where the water first comes up out of the spring. This area was out in the open with a wild rose bush a few feet away. The bird then flew across and down stream into some junipers were I was able to see the spread tail as it landed. (At this point I ran to the car for my field guide and camera). The bird then flew from the area of the junipers into a chokecherry thicket near the top of the spring. It moved around within the chokecherry for a while. The bird did not hold the wings tight against the back but let them droop a little as it hopped around (See photo).
Habitat:	Riparian. (Cottonwood, chokecherry, dogwood, rose.) Along a stream. Surrounded by hilly Pinyon and sagebrush habitat.
Similar species and how were they eliminated:	I can not think of any other species that are very similar to the above description. - Yellow Warbler would not have such bold wing-bars or such a sharp contrast between yellow upperparts and gray underparts or such a bold eye-ring. - Bay-breasted, Blackpoll and Pine Warblers would have more color in the face and underparts (not uniform gray). They would have an eyestripe and not a complete bold eye-ring. - Nashville and Virginia s Warblers have no wing-bars and have grayer backs. - Orange-crowned and Tennessee Warblers would not have the complete eye-ring or bold wing-bars. - Wilson s Warbler has yellow face, chest and belly. Has no wing-bars or white spots on the tail and no eye-ring. - Goldfinches would have yellow on their chest, a thicker bill and No bold eye-ring. - Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Hutton s and Yellow-throated Vireos and Empidonax Flycatchers are not as yellow on the upperparts or gray on the underparts, the eye-ring is not as evenly spaced around the eye and they do not have white in the tail.
Previous experience with this & similar species:	I have seen a few adults back East but I don t recall ever seeing a first year Chestnut-sided Warbler before.
References consulted:	Sibley Guide to Birds.
Description from:	Notes made later
Observer:	Eric Huish
Observer's address:	850 East 100 North, Pleasant Grove, Utah 84062
Observer's e-mail address:	poorwill_@hotmail.com
Other observers who independently identified this bird:	None... yet.
Date prepared:	August 29, 2006
Additional material:	Photo
Additional comments: