Sighting Record for Utah

Common name:	Brown-capped Rosy-Finch
Scientific name:	Leucosticte australis
Date:	12-08-2014
Time:	2:00pm
Length of time observed:	15 minutes
Number:	1
Age:	immature
Sex:	male
Location:	Alta
County:	Salt Lake
Latilong:
Elevation:	8,500ft
Distance to bird:	less than 3m
Optical equipment:	Nikon 10x50 Binocular, Canon SX50 HS Camera
Weather:	Sunny,40F
Light Conditions:	Very bright, rather harsh, but the very close range of the bird eliminated lighting challenges
Description: Size of bird:	Medium sized Finch
(Description:) Basic Shape:	Finch shaped
(Description:) Overall Pattern:	Overall brown body, very dull mostly blackish cap
(Description:) Bill Type:	Short,conical finch bill
(Description:) Field Marks and Identifying Characteristics:	What I first noticed was a brown Rosy-finch with a low contrast dull cap that was mostly blackish rather than silvery gray. It was mixed with 2 'Interior' Gray-crowned Rosy-finches and 2 'Hepburn's Gray-crowned Rosy-finches, giving great comparisons.The definitive field mark distinguishing this species from 'Interior' Gray-crowned Rosy-finch is the amount of black in the crown. In 'Interior' Gray-crowned the black is limited to the forehead, in this species the black goes through the crown and even onto the nape, and the gray is limited to being a narrow supercilium behind the eye. I sent my photos of this bird off to colleagues I work with at Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory, including Jason Beason and Tony Leukering, and they confirmed this bird is a Brown-capped Rosy-finch,immature male. (see photos)
Song or call & method of delivery:	Gave several typical Rosy-finch contact call, sounded essential identical to my ear to the others. I do not believe the calls differ among the species of Rosy-finch.
Behavior:	This finch was mixed with 4 Gray-crowned Rosy-finches,feeding on sunflowers seed on the ground under feeders. However, it seemed to avoid the other Rosy-finches, and mostly feed off by itself a meter or so away from the others,which all feed together,and when they flushed it landed in a different tree by itself, and then returned to feed before the others.
Habitat:	Mixed upper montane forest of Aspen-Spruce/Fir, on the edge of town, feeding at bird feeders I put especially to attract Rosy-finches. Alta is famous for its Rosy-finch flocks in winter
Similar species and how were they eliminated:	See notes above
Previous experience with this & similar species:	I've seen this species 3 other times in Colorado, including this past summer above Telluride in August. However since all my sighting have been in summer, there was no other species of Rosy-finch with them to confuse the ID,making it much simpler.
References consulted:	Sibley,2014. Opinions of Jason Beason(Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory), and Tony Leukering(Colorado eBird reviewer, and experience bander of Rosy-finches in Colorado).
Description from:	From photo(s) taken at the time of the sighting
Observer:	Bryant Olsen
Observer's address:	688 East 700 South #105, SLC, UT 84102
Observer's e-mail address:	**
Other observers who independently identified this bird:	Matt Pendelton and Shyloh Robinson may have seen the same finch the next day
Date prepared:	12-12-2014
Additional material:	Photos
Additional_Comments:	E-mail opinions: "Here is another opinion from Tony Leukering (he knows his stuff!). Tony has also banded many BCRF."-From Jason Beason "Agreed(with Jason Beasons ID of Brown-capped Rosy-finch). It looks like a 1st-cycle male. Wings have little pink, as does belly, so a 1st-cycle. Head has an adult pattern, so a male -- imm females are just plain dull overall. Tony" "Sure looks like a Brown-capped Rosy-Finch to me! I have forwarded to Kim Potter. She has banded hundreds (or thousands?) and her input will be valuable. Thanks, Jason" ** I Haven't heard back from Kim Potter by the time of this report was being filled out