Verification of Unusual
Sight Record
For Utah
Rec. # 2012-19
| Common name: |
Bronzed Cowbird |
| Scientific name: | Molothrus aeneus |
| Date: | 05-19-2012 |
| Time: | 8:48am |
| Length of time observed: | 10 seconds |
| Number: | 1 |
| Age: | adult |
| Sex: | male |
| Location: | off the road that goes from Rockville to Grafton,a short distance up creek that crosses the road, where the dirt road that goes over Smithsonian Butte turns off. |
| County: | Washington |
| Latilong: | |
| Elevation: | 3900 feet |
| Distance to bird: | 50 yards |
| Optical equipment: | 10X50 Bushnell binoculars, Cannon SX20 Digital Camera |
| Weather: | Clear and sunny,70F |
| Light Conditions: | Conditions: excellent |
| Description: Size of bird: | Large passerine |
| (Description:) Basic Shape: | blackbird like |
| (Description:) Overall Pattern: | jet black |
| (Description:) Bill Type: | long and stout |
|
(Description:)
Field Marks and Identifying Characteristics: |
Saw a blackbird fly over head, but it made an unfamiliar call,so when it landed
in a tree nearby I looked at it in my binoculars and didn't see a brown head as
one would expect for a Brown-headed Cowbird, so I snapped a photo. It then flew
off. Upon looking at the photo, the bird was jet black with a red eye. (see photos) |
| Song or call & method of delivery: | a strange slurred whistle,similar to but with a different tone than a Brown-headed Cowbirds. Made in flight. |
| Behavior: | Flew over head and then landed in a tree nearby,only to fly off again a moment later |
| Habitat: | Along a creek with running water and big cottonwoods, in a Sand sagebrush,Indigo Bush,Blackbrush sandy desert area,near the Virgin River |
| Similar
species and
how were they eliminated: |
No other species of icterid in Utah has a red eye. Great-tailed Grackle would be much larger, Red-winged Blackbird would have red on the shoulders,Yellow-headed Blackbird would have a yellow head, Brown-headed Cowbird would have a dark eye and brown head, European Starling would have a yellow bill. |
| Previous
experience with this & similar species: |
none |
| References consulted: | Sibley guide to birds,2000 D.A. Sibley |
| Description from: | From memory |
| Observer: | Bryant Olsen |
| Observer's address: | 688 East 700 South SLC,UT 84102 |
| Observer's e-mail address: | ** |
| Other observers who independently identified this bird: | none |
| Date prepared: | 05-23-12 |
| Additional material: | Photos |
| Additional_Comments: | Will send photos to webmatser. They are of poor quality, but if cropped to full extent the red eye is apparent. |