Verification of Unusual
Sight Record
For Utah
Rec. # 2012-05
| Common name: |
Neotropic Cormorant |
| Scientific name: | Phalacrocorax brasilianus |
| Date: | April 4, 2012 |
| Time: | 4:10 P.M. DST |
| Length of time observed: | 20 minutes |
| Number: | 1 |
| Age: | Adult |
| Sex: | |
| Location: | Mill Race Pond. 53rd South, Taylorsville, Ut. (just west of Jordan River) |
| County: | Salt Lake |
| Latilong: | |
| Elevation: | 4300 ft |
| Distance to bird: | 75 yards |
| Optical equipment: | Nikon D5100, Nikon 70-300 VR lens |
| Weather: | sunny-WINDY |
| Light Conditions: | late P.M. sun |
| Description: Size of bird: | 1/3 smaller than DCCO |
| (Description:) Basic Shape: | cormorant shape |
| (Description:) Overall Pattern: | brown-black. 1st summer; adult |
| (Description:) Bill Type: | |
|
(Description:)
Field Marks and Identifying Characteristics: |
Adult bird, yet to acquire full breeding plumage. Brown-black in color, not yet
in full breeding plumage. Distinctive facial features: specifically a dull yellow gular pouch which came to a sharp V shape behind the bill. (see photo) |
| Song or call & method of delivery: | |
| Behavior: | Resting on man-made float near the middle of pond. |
| Habitat: | Urban fishery,stocked with catchable game fish. |
| Similar
species and
how were they eliminated: |
Double crested cormorant. DCCO has a "U" shaped gular pouch where the bill joins
the head,with extensive yellow SKIN extending into the lores. The DCCO features are in direct contrast to the NECOs dull yellow gular pouch which came to a sharp "V" shape behind the bill. |
| Previous
experience with this & similar species: |
4 years of photo-documentation in Northern Utah, beginning April 29, 2009 |
| References consulted: | |
| Description from: | From memory |
| Observer: | Richard B. Young |
| Observer's address: | Salt Lake City, Ut. |
| Observer's e-mail address: | richbyoung@isp.com |
| Other observers who independently identified this bird: | NONE |
| Date prepared: | April 5, 2012 |
| Additional material: | Photo |
| Additional_Comments: | This is the earliest I've discovered NECOs in northern Utah (4-4-12); with the next earliest being 4-29-09 |