Verification of Unusual
Sight Record
For Utah
Rec. # 2013-93
| Common name: |
Painted Bunting |
| Scientific name: | Passerina ciris |
| Date: | 11-29-2013 |
| Time: | ~ 12:30 |
| Length of time observed: | 1 min |
| Number: | 1 |
| Age: | ? |
| Sex: | female |
| Location: | Lytle Ranch |
| County: | Washington |
| Latilong: | 19 |
| Elevation: | ~ 850 m |
| Distance to bird: | 3-5 m |
| Optical equipment: | 8 x 42 binoculars |
| Weather: | clear and sunny |
| Light Conditions: | direct sun |
| Description: Size of bird: | |
| (Description:) Basic Shape: | |
| (Description:) Overall Pattern: | |
| (Description:) Bill Type: | |
|
(Description:)
Field Marks and Identifying Characteristics: |
Steve and Cindy Sommerfeld located a female Painted Bunting in the milo field
(along the Beaver Dam Wash near the pond) at Lytle Ranch on 11/28/2013. Quinn,
Larry Tripp, and I relocated it at the north end of the milo field mid-day on
the 29th. We saw the bunting fly up and briefly perch on a milo stalk before
dropping back into the field. I walked out in the field to get a photo. We saw
it fly quickly and duck back into the milo fifteen or so feet in front of me.
Despite White-crowned Sparrows flushing from the field the bunting stayed low
moving through the dense milo. Eventually it flew up and perched on a sunflower
stalk allowing photos before flying off to the dense shrubs adjacent to the
field. Description: Small bunting with bright green plumage. Green on head, back, wings, rump, tail, and upper breast. Buffy greenish yellow on throat and belly. Wings green with dark primaries. Large dark eye prominent on face with complete thin but distinct eye-ring. Short and thick bill, pinkish with dark culmen, and yellow at gape. Legs dark. (see photos) |
| Song or call & method of delivery: | none heard |
| Behavior: | rather skulky for a bunting |
| Habitat: | milo field along the Beaver Dam Wash |
| Similar
species and
how were they eliminated: |
very distinct |
| Previous
experience with this & similar species: |
yes |
| References consulted: | |
| Description from: | Notes made later |
| Observer: | Rick Fridell |
| Observer's address: | Hurricane, UT |
| Observer's e-mail address: | ** |
| Other observers who independently identified this bird: | Steve and Cindy Sommerfeld, Larry Tripp |
| Date prepared: | 12-05-2013 |
| Additional material: | Photos |
| Additional_Comments: |