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: