Verification of Unusual
Sight Record
For Utah
Rec. # 2006-46(R81)
(Transcribed by M. G. Moody)
| Common name: |
LeConte's Thrasher |
| Scientific name: | Toxostoma lecontei |
| Date: | 07/24/81 |
| Time: | 06:38 to 06:41 [A.M.] |
| Length of time observed: | |
| Number: | 1 |
| Age: | Summer - adult |
| Sex: | ? |
| Location: | About 200 meters east of Cottonwood Grove at Welcome Springs near Beaver Dam Wash (SW of Santa Clara, Washington County, Utah) |
| County: | Washington |
| Latilong: | |
| Elevation: | |
| Distance to bird: | 30 meters (paced off) |
| Optical equipment: | 7 x 35 binoculars (Bushnell Featherlight) |
| Weather: | |
| Light Conditions: | Early morning - the sun had just "touched" the bird's perch |
| Description: Size of bird: | |
| (Description:) Basic Shape: | |
| (Description:) Overall Pattern: | |
| (Description:) Bill Type: | |
|
(Description:)
Field Marks and Identifying Characteristics: |
The length was 25-30 cm, wingspan estimated at about 25 cm (he moved too
fast!) The bill was strongly downcurved & about 6 cm long; the plumage was
light gray-brown except the tail feathers (about 10 cm) appeared darker &
the ventral portions appeared even lighter (i.e. throat, breast, etc.); there
was a dark stripe from the base of the bill through the eye & most noticeably
the under tail coverts were light. The eye did not appear yellow but the observation was not a long one. |
| Song or call & method of delivery: | A single "harsh" call was uttered from a perch. |
| Behavior: | As the sun rose over the Beaver Dam Mountains to the east, a thrasher which had apparently been in the shrub jumped up on the top & called once. It turned its head to both sides, raised its tail, then flew to the base of a nearby mesquite & disappeared from view. I was unsuccessful in attempts to relocate him. |
| Habitat: | Foothills - transition mesquite, yucca to juniper (sparse) & cottonwoods & unidentified shrubs in a nearby spring drainage. |
| Similar
species and
how were they eliminated: |
Sage Thrasher - has streaked breast, much shorter bill, white wing-bars, darker
plumage Bendire's Thrasher - shorter bill & lightly streaked breast, darker plumage Crissal Thrasher - has darker plumage & Rusty under tail coverts Cactus Wren - smaller, heavily streaked, white superciliary line |
| Previous
experience with this & similar species: |
This was a new species for me. I have several observations of Sage, Crissal & Bendire's Thrashers |
| References consulted: | |
| Description from: | notes made during and after observation |
| Observer: | Austin Ray Johnson |
| Observer's address: | 1812 Alder, Richland, Washington 99352 |
| Observer's e-mail address: | |
| Other observers who independently identified this bird: | Forrest Luke (1650 Dewar Drive #64, Rock Springs, Wyoming 82901) told me of seeing this species near this area in June 1981. That report plus Merrill Webb & I saw a "light-colored" thrasher near this site in ... [something missing from photocopy -- Merrill can't help with the missing information.] |
| Date prepared: | [assumed in 1981] |
| Additional material: | Original Record |
| Additional comments: |