Verification of Unusual
Sight Record
For Utah
Rec. # 2012-40
| Common name: |
Yellow-bellied Flycatcher |
| Scientific name: | Empidonax flaviventris |
| Date: | September 23, 2012 |
| Time: | 10:00 am |
| Length of time observed: | 45 minutes |
| Number: | 1 |
| Age: | first winter |
| Sex: | |
| Location: | Garr Ranch, Antelope Island State Park |
| County: | Davis |
| Latilong: | |
| Elevation: | ? |
| Distance to bird: | varied from 10 to 30 feet |
| Optical equipment: | 8x42 binocs, 10x43 binocs |
| Weather: | 65 degrees, slight breeze |
| Light Conditions: | full sun, though bird was usually in the shade |
| Description: Size of bird: | less than 6 inches |
| (Description:) Basic Shape: | small songbird |
| (Description:) Overall Pattern: | yellowish-green above, pale yellow below, dark wings |
| (Description:) Bill Type: | flat, wide, insect catching bill |
|
(Description:)
Field Marks and Identifying Characteristics: |
Bill was flat and wide, dark upper mandible, completely orange lower mandible.
Large-headed look, with slight crest. Head and back were dark yellowish-green.
Bold broad yellow-tinged complete eye ring, slightly wider behind the eye.
Yellow throat and underside, with an olive-gray wash on upper breast. Dark wings
with two buffy wing bars. Short-tailed with long primaries. Slightly notched
dark tail. (see photos) |
| Song or call & method of delivery: | none |
| Behavior: | Unusual flycatcher behavior, as most forays for insects were short and within the interior branches of the tree. The bird never perched on the edges of the trees, or flew to the ground, but rather stayed within the foliage. When it did fly from one tree to another, it flew directly into the inner branches. Each time it was difficult to find until it moved again. No wing-flicking was observed. |
| Habitat: | Openly spaced trees in grassy field. |
| Similar
species and
how were they eliminated: |
The yellow underparts and bold complete eye ring eliminate most flycatchers. Immature Acadian similar, but lacks the yellow throat. Immature Hammond's has a narrow bill with a dark tip underneath, white eye ring and throat. Pacific-slope and Cordilleran have an almond-shaped eye ring that is broken on top and extends to point at rear. P-S and Cordilleran also have longer tail and shorter wing tips, a more brownish tone above, and a brownish wash on breast. Hammond's, P-S and Cordilleran frequently flick their wings -- Yellow-bellied doesn't. |
| Previous
experience with this & similar species: |
Handful of Yellow-bellied sightings back East. Many years experience with western flycatchers, very little with eastern. |
| References consulted: | Sibley, Nat'l Geo, Audubon, various internet sites. |
| Description from: | From memory |
| Observer: | Kathy and Joel Beyer |
| Observer's address: | SLC, UT |
| Observer's e-mail address: | ** |
| Date prepared: | September 30, 2012 |
| Additional material: | Photos |
| Additional_Comments: |