Verification of Unusual
Sight Record
For Utah
Rec. # 2014-011
| Common name: |
Glossy Ibis |
| Scientific name: | Plegadis falcinellus |
| Date: | 28 Apr 2014 |
| Time: | 6:34 PM |
| Length of time observed: | 6 minutes |
| Number: | 1 |
| Age: | Adult |
| Sex: | |
| Location: | Intersection of 2000W and SR218 in Amalga |
| County: | Cache |
| Latilong: | |
| Elevation: | |
| Distance to bird: | ~30 feet |
| Optical equipment: | Nikon Monarch 10x42 binoculars and Nikon DSLR with 80-400mm lens. |
| Weather: | Mix of sun and clouds, breezy. |
| Light Conditions: | Sun behind observer. |
| Description: Size of bird: | Plegadis ibis. |
| (Description:) Basic Shape: | |
| (Description:) Overall Pattern: | |
| (Description:) Bill Type: | |
|
(Description:)
Field Marks and Identifying Characteristics: |
Easily recognizable as Plegadis sp. ibis by dark body, long legs, long decurved
dark bill, etc. See "similar species" for elimination of White-faced Ibis and
hybrids. (see photos) |
| Song or call & method of delivery: | None. |
| Behavior: | Foraging in a flooded field with 77 White-faced Ibis. |
| Habitat: | Flooded field. |
| Similar
species and
how were they eliminated: |
White-faced Ibis is the only really similar species, and was present for direct comparison. This bird had dark slaty-gray facial skin surrounded by a thin border of pale bluish-white facial skin. There were no white feathers bordering the facial skin. The pale border did not reach behind the eye. The eye was dark, blackish. The legs were grayer than adjacent White-faced Ibis, with reddish at the "knees" (intertarsal joints) but not away from the joints. Hybrids were eliminated because the facial skin was solidly dark slaty gray with no indication of reddish or purple, and eye was completely dark. See photos for further details. |
| Previous
experience with this & similar species: |
Quite familiar with White-faced Ibis, typically hundreds observed each week in breeding season in Utah. I have seen Glossy Ibis on several occasions in Utah and elsewhere. This is my seventh observation of the species in Utah (see records 2008-14, 2013-38 [two birds], 2013-45, 2013-46, and 2013-47). I have also seen hybrid Plegadis on several occasions in Utah. |
| References consulted: | None. |
| Description from: | From photo(s) taken at the time of the sighting |
| Observer: | Ryan P. O'Donnell |
| Observer's address: | 1098 Crescent Dr., Logan, UT 84341 |
| Observer's e-mail address: | ** |
| Other observers who independently identified this bird: | None. |
| Date prepared: | 29 Apr 2014 |
| Additional material: | Photos |
| Additional_Comments: | eBird checklist: http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S18131617 |