Sighting Record for Utah

Common name:	Scissor-tailed Flycatcher
Scientific name:	Tyrannus Forficatus
Date:	8/12/13
Time:	8:30 AM
Length of time observed:	3 minutes
Number:	1
Age:	1st year
Sex:	unsure
Location:	The Nature Conservancy's Shorelands Preserve
County:	Davis
Latilong:	41.064736,-112.100095
Elevation:	4,285 ft.
Distance to bird:	35-40 yards.
Optical equipment:	Nikon Monarch Binoculars 10X42
Weather:	Few clouds in the sky, sunny, warm.
Light Conditions:	Sun was behind the bird. Decent lighting.
Description: Size of bird:	About the size of an Am. Robin or large Kingbird.
(Description:) Basic Shape:	Flycatcher look. Perched similar to Kingbird.
(Description:) Overall Pattern:	Light gray head and mantle, dark wings, grayish belly and breast with faint yellowish orange coloring on the flanks.
(Description:) Bill Type:	Thin, flycatcher like bill.
(Description:) Field Marks and Identifying Characteristics:	Light gray head contrasting with dark wings and tail. Absolutely NO yellow on breast like other juvenile Western Kingbirds in the area. Light orange/yellow coloring on the flanks. Short tail threw me off, but I did research on it and juvenile Scissor-tailed Flycatchers do show tails as short, or sometimes shorter than this bird had. (see photos)
Song or call & method of delivery:	Was silent. I saw this bird while conducting a survey at the preserve. I first noticed the Eastern Kingbirds sitting on the fence and then the Scissor-tailed farther down. The pale belly and head caught my eye and immediately made me thing Scissor-tailed Flycatcher over Western Kingbird. The short tail threw me off, but I have done research and juvenile S-T's can show this tail length. Observed for 3 minutes.
Behavior:	The bird sat on the wire for the whole time we observed it. One of the Eastern Kingbirds flew up and I put it in the binoculars and watched it for about 10-15 seconds. When I took my bincoulars of the Kingbird the S-T had flown away. I had to continue the survey and didn't search for it further.
Habitat:	Flycatcher was sitting on a fence wire with two Eastern Kingbirds near a small pond by open fields.
Similar species and how were they eliminated:	Western Kingbird: Short tail could be confused with Western Kingbird, but this bird showed no yellow like the other juvenile and adult Western Kingbirds in the area. Instead it had a faint yellowish/orange color on the flanks. Eastern Kingbird: The bird did not show the distinctive black and white pattern that all plumages and ages of Eastern Kingbird show. Say's Phoebe: Larger in size than a Phoebe, lighter gray coloring than the brownish of a Say's Phoebe.
Previous experience with this & similar species:	I've seen many of these in Texas and I've grown up with both Western Kingbirds, Say's Phoebes, and Eastern Kingbirds living in Utah.
References consulted:	Sibley Guide to Birds (latest edition)I used this in the field while watching the bird), Flickr photos, All about birds, and google images.
Description from:	Notes made later
Observer:	Kendall Watkins
Observer's address:	2622 Dry Creek Drive, Riverton, Utah
Observer's e-mail address:	**
Other observers who independently identified this bird:
Date prepared:	8/20/13
Additional material:	Photos
Additional_Comments:	Description from notes made later and from photos.