Verification of Unusual
Sight Record
For Utah
Rec. # 2013-35
| Common name: |
Painted Bunting |
| Scientific name: | Passerina ciris |
| Date: | 4-30-13 |
| Time: | 1:30pm |
| Length of time observed: | 2hrs,30minutes |
| Number: | 1 |
| Age: | Unknown |
| Sex: | Unknown (not adult male) |
| Location: | Garr Ranch,Antelope Island State Park |
| County: | Davis |
| Latilong: | |
| Elevation: | 4220ft |
| Distance to bird: | 3 yards |
| Optical equipment: | 10X50 Binoculars. Canon Sx20 is Digital Camera |
| Weather: | sunny,breezy,60F |
| Light Conditions: | Good |
| Description: Size of bird: | medium sized passerine |
| (Description:) Basic Shape: | passerine |
| (Description:) Overall Pattern: | Lime green above,yellow below |
| (Description:) Bill Type: | stout,dark |
|
(Description:)
Field Marks and Identifying Characteristics: |
I first saw the bird in flight, then it landed low in some shrubbery nearby, very close,3 yards off. It was green on the back and yellow on the throat and breast. At first I thought it must be an Orange-crowned Warbler, but the bill was stout and dark, and the posture was wrong for a warbler, also the green on the back was a very bright lime green, with a turquoise iridescence quality that OCWA lack. There are very few green birds in Utah, and none matched this bird. Then it dawned on me that it could be a female type Painted Bunting, which the bill shape and yellow eye ring matched. I continued to watch the bird for some time, taking many photos and video, then went and consulted my Sibley which was in the car. Seemed a perfect match. See photos. |
| Song or call & method of delivery: | none heard |
| Behavior: | Feeding on dandelion seed heads in a grassy field,and flying into low brush nearby periodically |
| Habitat: | In a grassy field,surrounded by thickets of Russian Olive trees and Box Elders,near a spring |
| Similar
species and
how were they eliminated: |
Bill wrong for Orange-crowned Warbler. Tail to short for Green-tailed Towhee,no red crown. Too big for Ruby-crowned Kinglet. Wasn't acting like a Flycatcher(eating seeds on the ground). Too small for a female Tanager,also behavior wrong for a Tanager(eating seeds on the ground). |
| Previous
experience with this & similar species: |
Yes,saw a male in Rose Park SLC,UT on May 2nd 2009 |
| References consulted: | Sibley guide to Western Birds |
| Description from: | From photo(s) taken at the time of the sighting |
| 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: |
Shyloh Robinson,Norm and Gail Jensen,Stephanie Greenwood,Paul Higgins on Tuesday
that I know of,and many others since |
| Date prepared: | 05-02-13 |
| Additional material: | Photos |
| Additional_Comments: |