Verification of Unusual Sight Record
For Utah

Rec. # 2015-15


Common name:

Baltimore Oriole

Scientific name: Icterus galbula
Date: 5/23/2015
Time: 11:45 am
Length of time observed: 5 minutes
Number: 1
Age: unknown
Sex: male
Location: hiking the Y trail (along the second turn)
County: Utah
Latilong:  
Elevation:  
Distance to bird: 3-4 feet
Optical equipment: none needed
Weather: partly cloudy
Light Conditions:  
Description:        Size of bird: average
(Description:)       Basic Shape: songbird
(Description:)  Overall Pattern: black head with bright orange chest and orange stripe on the wings
(Description:)            Bill Type:  
(Description:)                              
Field Marks and
Identifying Characteristics:
We noticed the song of this songbird while we were hiking down the mountain and so we walked slowly until we could locate it in a small tree just in front of us. I was surprised to see the distinctive markings--bright orange chest, black head, white stripe across the wings. We moved here from North Carolina and I didn't think that Baltimore Orioles could be found this far west, so we came right home to look it up.
Song or call & method of delivery: Beautiful oriole songbird. He was singing on repeat.
Behavior: Just sitting on a branch. We approached slowly, but he didn't seem bothered by us.
Habitat: Small trees and low scrub.
Similar species and how
were they eliminated:
This bird is just so distinctive that I didn't think it could be any other species, but we looked through all our bird guides and both my son and I agreed that it was the Baltimore Oriole we had seen.
Previous experience with
this & similar species:
Avid bird watchers in North Carolina until we moved here, and so we are very familiar with various kinds of songbirds, chickadees, finches, cardinals, nuthatches, etc.
References consulted: Audubon Bird Guide, allaboutbirds.org
Description from: Notes taken at the time of the sighting
Observer: Rebecca Riding
Observer's address: 773 N 300 W American Fork, UT 84003
Observer's e-mail address: **
Other observers who independently identified this bird: [Rebecca's son]
Date prepared: 5/24/2015
Additional material:  
Additional_Comments: Thanks for this page! We were so excited that we wanted to be able to tell someone what we'd seen.