Verification of Unusual
Sight Record
For Utah
Rec. # 2007-08
| Common name: |
Hudsonian Godwit |
| Scientific name: | Limosa haemastica |
| Date: | 04/22/2007 |
| Time: | 4:15pm |
| Length of time observed: | 1 minute |
| Number: | 1 |
| Age: | Adult |
| Sex: | male |
| Location: | Farmington Bay Wildlife Management Are |
| County: | |
| Latilong: | |
| Elevation: | 4200 feet |
| Distance to bird: | 150 - 500 feet |
| Optical equipment: | 10x42 Nikon Binocs and a Canon Camera w/ 400mm lens |
| Weather: | Overcast, cloudy and windy |
| Light Conditions: | poor lighting |
| Description: Size of bird: | Large shorebird |
| (Description:) Basic Shape: | like a godwit? |
| (Description:) Overall Pattern: | Rufous, gray, brown, black and white |
| (Description:) Bill Type: | Long, thin, upcurved pinkish-red and black |
|
(Description:)
Field Marks and Identifying Characteristics: |
Typical Godwit shaped, it appeared to be slightly
smaller than the Marbled Godwits it was flying with. The bird appeared to
be dark rufous over most of its body, with a grayish neck and head. The wings were black with white bases to the primaries and secondaries in both the underwing and the outerwing. The upper wing coverts were dark to medium gray. The bird also exhibited a black tail and white rump as well as a dark rufous back. The bill was long, slightly upcurved, with a pinkish-red base and black tip. (see photo) |
| Song or call & method of delivery: | None Heard |
| Behavior: | Flying with a flock of Marbled Godwit. |
| Habitat: | Freshwater marsh on the edge of the Great Salt Lake |
| Similar
species and
how were they eliminated: |
Marbled Godwit - This species is light
brown and "marbled" black over its entire body. It also lacks the wing
and tail pattern of the Hudsonian. Bar-tailed Godwit - Lacks wing and tail pattern of Hudsonian. Black-tailed Godwit - This species has white underwings, a rufous-red head and neck and a brighter rufous back. |
| Previous
experience with this & similar species: |
Had seen Hudsonian Godwit on the East Coast in
2002 and 2003. |
| References consulted: | Sibley Guide to Birds |
| Description from: | |
| Observer: | Tim Avery |
| Observer's address: | Salt Lake City, Utah |
| Observer's e-mail address: | tanager@timaverybirding.com |
| Other observers who independently identified this bird: | Joel Beyer. Kathy Beyer was also present but I am not sure if she saw the bird. The Beyer's alerted me to the bird around 3:00 pm and I stayed to watch for it. |
| Date prepared: | 05/26/2007 |
| Additional material: | Photo |
| Additional comments: |