Verification of Unusual
Sight Record
For Utah
Rec. # 2013-36
| Common name: |
Least Tern |
| Scientific name: | Sternula antillarum |
| Date: | 5/6/13 |
| Time: | 5:50 PM |
| Length of time observed: | 5 minutes |
| Number: | 1 |
| Age: | Adult |
| Sex: | Unknown |
| Location: | Pioneer Crossing Ponds. North side of Pioneer Crossing at mile marker 1 in Lehi, UT |
| County: | |
| Latilong: | |
| Elevation: | ~4500' |
| Distance to bird: | 20-100 yards |
| Optical equipment: | Cabela XT 8x42 binoculars and Nikon D5000 DSLR with 300mm f4 Nikon lens at 1.4x converter |
| Weather: | Cloudy, somewhat humid. A light rain fell for a moment. |
| Light Conditions: | Overcast |
| Description: Size of bird: | Slightly larger than the nearby barn swallows. Smaller than a forster's tern. |
| (Description:) Basic Shape: | Bulky chest, very tapered to the short forked tail. Slender pointed wings. |
| (Description:) Overall Pattern: | Black crown, white forehead, yellow bill, yellowish feet, two dark primary feathers. Light gray upper wing, all white underside. White tail. |
| (Description:) Bill Type: | Thin with a sharp tip. |
|
(Description:)
Field Marks and Identifying Characteristics: |
See overall color pattern described above. The bird hovered and dove into the
small pond. (see photos) |
| Song or call & method of delivery: | No call made during observation |
| Behavior: | Circling and hovering over the pond. Dove into the pond to retrieve a small fish. |
| Habitat: | Fresh water pond. |
| Similar
species and
how were they eliminated: |
Tail was shorter than forsters, bill was yellow rather than orange like Caspian and Forsters adults. White forehead not seen on adult Caspian and Forsters. Legs were yellowish rather than orange like forster's and black like caspian. The two black primaries on this bird are not seen on breeding caspian and forster's terns. |
| Previous
experience with this & similar species: |
Saw some in Mexico two years ago. |
| References consulted: | Sibley's Guide. |
| Description from: | Notes taken at the time of the sighting |
| Observer: | Jeff Cooper |
| Observer's address: | 3499 N 1270 W in Pleasant Grove, UT 84062 |
| Observer's e-mail address: | ** |
| Other observers who independently identified this bird: | |
| Date prepared: | 5/6/13 |
| Additional material: | Photos |
| Additional_Comments: | Photos emailed to Milt Moody. |