Verification of Unusual
Sight Record
For Utah
Rec. # 2013-26
| Common name: |
Common Redpoll |
| Scientific name: | Acanthis flammea |
| Date: | 27 Feb 2013 |
| Time: | 11 am |
| Length of time observed: | 10 minutes |
| Number: | 6+ |
| Age: | |
| Sex: | |
| Location: | Brighton Loop Road at top of Big Cottonwood canyon |
| County: | Salt Lake Utah |
| Latilong: | |
| Elevation: | 8700 ft |
| Distance to bird: | 25 feet |
| Optical equipment: | Zeiss binoculars |
| Weather: | clear and cold (15 deg) no wind |
| Light Conditions: | bright sun |
| Description: Size of bird: | small, 4-5 inch max |
| (Description:) Basic Shape: | finch like |
| (Description:) Overall Pattern: | brown with light pink breast |
| (Description:) Bill Type: | finch like, dark |
|
(Description:)
Field Marks and Identifying Characteristics: |
Back was brown with prominent streaking. Black chin was prominent. Breast was plain gray with a pinkish tone Staring on the lower chest and moving toward the belly there was brown streaking most prominent in the flanks. Two white wing bars, not particularly prominent. legs were dark |
| Song or call & method of delivery: | Mostly "chit chit vocalization as it flew |
| Behavior: | Small flock of redpolls intermixed with 15 + mountain chickadees. Moved frequently and hung on branches like chickadees flitting between alders and short evergreens (?spruce). Flew across street to taller spruces and one stopped on telephone wire directly overhead. Undulating flight |
| Habitat: | Trees and brush adjacent to an open field |
| Similar
species and
how were they eliminated: |
Pine siskin: No yellow, dark cap and no streaking on breast itself. Bill was not
slender but rather finch like Other finches: Too small and lacked any of the markings of house finch Hoary redpoll: too dark Crossbills: lacked crossed bill |
| Previous
experience with this & similar species: |
Seen on occasion at backyard feeder in Michigan and closely in Cache a week ago (separate report) |
| References consulted: | Sibley's, iBird Pro |
| Description from: | From memory |
| Observer: | John C Ruckdeschel, MD |
| Observer's address: | (local ) 1552 Redstone Dr. Park City Utah; (home) Las Vegas, NV |
| Observer's e-mail address: | ** |
| Other observers who independently identified this bird: | none |
| Date prepared: | 27 Feb 2013 |
| Additional material: | |
| Additional_Comments: |