Sighting Record for Utah

Common name:	Zone-tailed Hawk
Scientific name:	Buteo albonotatus
Date:	May 10 2012
Time:	2:10
Length of time observed:	7 minutes
Number:	1
Age:	female
Sex:
Location:	BYU campus
County:
Latilong:
Elevation:
Distance to bird:	40 feet
Optical equipment:
Weather:	slightly overcast
Light Conditions:	good
Description: Size of bird:	3.5 to 4 feet
(Description:) Basic Shape:	hawk
(Description:) Overall Pattern:	black with light flight feathers
(Description:) Bill Type:	black and curved
(Description:) Field Marks and Identifying Characteristics:	It was a massive black bird of prey with grey flight feathers. It's head did not protrude and it's tail feathers did not fan out at all. The wings were in a V-shape. It flapped it wings once or twice and points flew very low to the ground.
Song or call & method of delivery:
Behavior:	It was soaring in the air circling once or twice. As it was soaring it rocked in the air like a vulture would.
Habitat:	Valley surrounded by mountains. Not very much greenery.
Similar species and how were they eliminated:	Common black hawk, but I eliminated it because the bird behaved like a vulture like a zone-tailed would. Short-tailed hawk which I eliminated because this bird was much to big to be a short-tailed.
Previous experience with this & similar species:
References consulted:	Wikipedia, Clark, William S. (2004). "Is the Zone-tailed Hawk a Mimic?". Birding 36 (5): 495 498.
Description from:	Notes taken at time of sighting
Observer:	Dana Kendall, Jonathon Owen, Arthur Morrill
Observer's address:	167 HGB Provo Utah 84606
Observer's e-mail address:	**
Other observers who independently identified this bird:
Date prepared:	May 10 2012
Additional material:
Additional_Comments:	It was awesome and I'm still super excited about it.