Sighting Record for Utah

Common name:	Prothonotary Warbler
Scientific name:	Protonotaria citrea
Date:	Nov 2, 2006
Time:	10:00-11:00
Length of time observed:	45 min - 1 hr
Number:	1
Age:	First-year or adult
Sex:	Male
Location:	773 and 796N. 700E., Morgan
County:	Morgan
Latilong:	3
Elevation:	Unk
Distance to bird:	10-30 feet
Optical equipment:	8 x 42 binoculars
Weather:	Clear and sunny
Light Conditions:	Full sun to dappled shade
Description: Size of bird:	Small passerine
(Description:) Basic Shape:	Stout body, short-tailed
(Description:) Overall Pattern:	Yellow head and underparts; gray wings and tail
(Description:) Bill Type:	Insect-eating; piercing
(Description:) Field Marks and Identifying Characteristics:	Overall chunky-looking warbler due to larger body size than most warblers, relatively large head and short, wide tail. Bare parts: Bill: more like an oriole than a warbler; thicker and longer than typical warbler bills. Upper mandible dark, lower mandible horn-colored on basal portion and dark on distal end. Eye: large and black. Legs and feet: steely gray-blue. Head: Bold bright yellow with olive tinge to forehead, crown and nape. Sides of face and throat: bright yellow. Upper parts: Mantle: yellow-green, contrasting slightly with nape. Lower back and uppertail coverts: gray Wings and tail: unmarked gray; bluish cast in low light. Unmarked. Under parts: Breast and belly: same bright yellow as face. Missing a clump of feathers on right side. Vent area, undertail coverts: white. Didn't see tail spot pattern. (see photos)
Song or call & method of delivery:	High-pitched, tiny "Seep" call in flight.
Behavior:	Moving and foraging constantly in small trees, low hedges and garden plants or on the ground. Saw the bird eat a daddy long-legs on the ground; other observers saw the bird forage in hawthorne and maple trees, forage for aphids in a low hedge, and frequent a garden with dried corn plants. Bird was most frequently seen piercing and eating grapes in a garden. In flight, bird seemed to make a beeline to its next foraging location; no wavering or indecision displayed in flight route.
Habitat:	Rural neighborhood yards
Similar species and how were they eliminated:	Clear yellow face and underparts with unmarked gray wings shown only by this species. Lack of dark facial and upper breast markings and wing bars eliminates Blue-winged Warbler and Blue-winged x Golden-winged hybrids. Gray wings and short tail eliminate female Hooded and Yellow Warblers. Lack of yellow spectacles and white wing-bars eliminate Yellow-green Vireo. White undertail coverts, bill type and lack of wing-bars eliminate tanagers.
Previous experience with this & similar species:	None with Prothonotary, Golden-winged, Hooded Warblers or Y-g Vireo; have seen the other comparison species sparingly except for ubiquitous Yellow Warbler.
References consulted:	Sibley, Peterson's Warblers, Cornell's BNA species account
Description from:	From memory
Observer:	Kristin M. Purdy
Observer's address:	1961 Arapaho Circle, Ogden, UT 84403
Observer's e-mail address:	kristinpurdy@comcast.net
Other observers who independently identified this bird:	Oct 31 - Nov 6: Arnold Smith Oct 31: Aaron and Shauna Smith Nov 2: Keith Evans, Pomera Fronce, Paul Higgins, Jack Rensel, David and Petey Wheeler Nov 4: Glenn Barlow, Lu Giddings, Cindy and Steve Sommerfeld, Mark Stackhouse, Merrill Webb Nov 5: Glenda Cotter, Carol Gwynn, MarJean Muhlestein, Donna and Glen Thorum Nov 6: Edson Leite and Beth...?
Date prepared:	Aug 9, 2007
Additional material:	Paul Higgins' images
Additional Comments:	Late submission due to a lame excuse; I thought Arnold would submit the report. Multiple observers and extensive photo documentation make this a good one to add to state records.