Verification of Unusual
Sight Record
For Utah
Rec. # 2011-58
| Common name: |
Northern Parula |
| Scientific name: | (Parula americana) [Setophaga americana] |
| Date: | October 02, 2011 |
| Time: | ~ 9:45 - 10:00 am |
| Length of time observed: | ~ 15 minutes |
| Number: | 1 |
| Age: | hatch-year |
| Sex: | |
| Location: | St. George |
| County: | Washington |
| Latilong: | 19 |
| Elevation: | ~ 875 m |
| Distance to bird: | 3-5 m |
| Optical equipment: | 10 x 42 binoculars |
| Weather: | clear and calm |
| Light Conditions: | |
| Description: Size of bird: | |
| (Description:) Basic Shape: | |
| (Description:) Overall Pattern: | |
| (Description:) Bill Type: | |
|
(Description:)
Field Marks and Identifying Characteristics: |
While watching a few Orange-crowned Warblers foraging in a tamarisk, I observed
a hatch-year Northern Parula fly in. It foraged in the tamarisk and nearby
Russian olive for a couple minutes before moving into a large cottonwood. I
called Rob, Meribeth, and the Sommerfelds who were nearby and they arrived
within 5-10 minutes. We were able to relocate and follow the parula in the
cottonwood for another 10 to 15 minutes. Loosely associating with a large flock
of Orange-crowned Warblers, a few Aububon s Warblers, a Townsend s Warbler, and
couple Cassin s Vireos. Description: Relatively small warbler with a short tail and thin bill. Head and face bluish gray with dark eye, distinct white eye-arcs, and thin dark loral line extending through eye. Distinct green-olive patch on mantle, bluish gray wings, rump, and upper tail. Wings with two distinct bright white wing-bars. Bright yellow throat and upper chest and bright white belly and undertail coverts. Undertail white with dark outer edging. Bill with dark upper mandible and yellow lower mandible. Legs gray with yellow feet. (see photos) |
| Song or call & method of delivery: | loud distinct chip |
| Behavior: | gleaning in tamarisks, Russian olives, and cottonwoods |
| Habitat: | urban plantings adjacent to small creek |
| Similar
species and
how were they eliminated: |
a very distinct warbler, distinguished from Tropical Parula by presence of eye
arcs and yellow limited to upper chest. |
| Previous
experience with this & similar species: |
yes |
| References consulted: | |
| Description from: | |
| Observer: | Rick Fridell |
| Observer's address: | Hurricane, UT |
| Observer's e-mail address: | rfridell@redrock.net |
| Other observers who independently identified this bird: | Also observed by Rob Dobbs, Meribeth Huizinga, and Steve and Cindy Sommerfeld. |
| Date prepared: | 11-18-2011 |
| Additional material: | Photos |
| Additional_Comments: | information copied from field notes |