Verification of Unusual
Sight Record
For Utah
Rec. # 2007-10
| Common name: |
Dickcissel |
| Scientific name: | Spiza americana |
| Date: | 05/20/2007 |
| Time: | 4:00 pm |
| Length of time observed: | 20 seconds |
| Number: | 1 |
| Age: | adult |
| Sex: | female |
| Location: | Lytle Ranch Preserve (south end of the orchard) |
| County: | Washington |
| Latilong: | |
| Elevation: | 2400 feet |
| Distance to bird: | 30 feet |
| Optical equipment: | 10x42 Nikon Binocs and a Canon Camera w/ 400mm lens |
| Weather: | Windy and hot |
| Light Conditions: | Bright and sunny. |
| Description: Size of bird: | Sparrow sized |
| (Description:) Basic Shape: | like a house sparrow |
| (Description:) Overall Pattern: | Drab gray nd brown with a little rufous, yellow and black |
| (Description:) Bill Type: | large, kind of like a small grosbeak bill |
|
(Description:)
Field Marks and Identifying Characteristics: |
Rather drab gray overall. The breast had a yellow wash and the shoulder had a
rufous wash. The bird was sitting in the same position the entire time, not
allowing a view of the back or tail, before it flew off to the south. The head had a rather unique pattern, but due to the flattened crown I was unable to see the supposed dark crown. However, the bird had a pale supercilium with a slight yellow wash above the eye. The eye was dark, with a slighlty dark, thin eyeline behind the eye. The bird had a whitish malar with a slight yellow wash near the middle. The bird had a black lateral throat stripe and a white throat to complete the unique head pattern. The bill was rather large and a blue-gray color. (see picture) |
| Song or call & method of delivery: | |
| Behavior: | sitting on a branch for about 20 seconds before flying away. |
| Habitat: | Orchard at the edge of a cottonwood based riparian area, in the middle of Utah's Mojave desrt. |
| Similar
species and
how were they eliminated: |
Several sparrow may look similar, but none have the combination of a rufous shoulder and yellow breast wash. |
| Previous
experience with this & similar species: |
Had never seen a female Dickcissel before, but have seen numerous males in Wyoming, Colorado, Nebraska, Iowa, and Wisconsin. |
| References consulted: | Sibley Guide to Birds |
| Description from: | Notes made later |
| 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: | none |
| Date prepared: | 05/26/2007 |
| Additional material: | Photo |
| Additional comments: |