Verification of Unusual
Sight Record
For Utah
Rec. # 2014-029
| Common name: |
Ovenbird |
| Scientific name: | Seiurus aurocapillus |
| Date: | August 31, 2014 |
| Time: | 11:30 am |
| Length of time observed: | 1hour (off and on) |
| Number: | 1 |
| Age: | adult |
| Sex: | ? |
| Location: | Fielding Garr Ranch, Antelope Island State Park |
| County: | Davis |
| Latilong: | |
| Elevation: | |
| Distance to bird: | 10 feet |
| Optical equipment: | 10x43 binos, 8x42 binos |
| Weather: | warm (mid 80's), calm |
| Light Conditions: | shady, with patches of sun |
| Description: Size of bird: | wood warbler (~ 6 in) |
| (Description:) Basic Shape: | thrush-like |
| (Description:) Overall Pattern: | olive back, white breast with black streaks |
| (Description:) Bill Type: | warbler-like but less pointed |
|
(Description:)
Field Marks and Identifying Characteristics: |
Pale pink bill, larger than typical warbler. Large dark eye with prominent white
eye-ring. Pale orange crown stripe, bordered by dark line on each side,
extending to nape. Upperparts of bird were entirely olive, including rest of
head, cheek, back, tail, and wings. No wing bars. White throat separated from
white malar by thin black stripe. Small amount of olive coloring to lower
flanks. Otherwise, underparts entirely white, with black spots/streaks running
down breast and flanks. Lower belly and undertail coverts were white and
unmarked. Pink legs. (see photos) |
| Song or call & method of delivery: | none |
| Behavior: | Slow jerky gait while foraging through leaf litter and fallen branches. When approached closely, it flew several feet to another ground location, and continued foraging. |
| Habitat: | decidiuous woods, leaf and branch litter on ground |
| Similar
species and
how were they eliminated: |
Most similar to thrushes and waterthrushes in behavior and size/shape, but all other species eliminated by the combination of white underparts with black streaks, large white eye-ring, and orange stripe on crown. |
| Previous
experience with this & similar species: |
Seen previously in Utah, and various places back East. Very familiar with all other similar species (thrushes, waterthrushes). |
| References consulted: | Sibley |
| Description from: | From photo(s) taken at the time of the sighting |
| Observer: | Joel and Kathy Beyer |
| Observer's address: | Salt Lake City, UT |
| Observer's e-mail address: | ** |
| Other observers who independently identified this bird: | Stephanie Greenwood, Paul Higgins, Edson Leite, and others. |
| Date prepared: | October 14, 2014 |
| Additional material: | Photos |
| Additional_Comments: |