Sighting Record for Utah

Common name:	Zone-tailed Hawk
Scientific name:	Buteo albonotatus
Date:	June 14, 2016
Time:	9:00 am
Length of time observed:	1 minute
Number:	1
Age:	Adult
Sex:	Unknown
Location:	Grafton, Utah (outside of Rockville)
County:	Washington
Latilong:
Elevation:	3750 feet
Distance to bird:	The closet was about 500 feet, the furthest was probably half a mile
Optical equipment:	Nikon Monarch 7 10x42, Nikon Coolpix P600
Weather:	Sunny - Clear - 70 degrees Fahrenheit
Light Conditions:	Sunny
Description: Size of bird:	About 20 inches, similar to most buteos
(Description:) Basic Shape:	Buteo
(Description:) Overall Pattern:	Black, tail banded white and black, yellow on beak
(Description:) Bill Type:	Hawk shaped
(Description:) Field Marks and Identifying Characteristics:	Overall black hawk, banded white and black tail, yellow seen on beak. Wings were narrow. Soaring around, never flapped its wings, teetered much like Turkey Vultures do. (see photos)
Song or call & method of delivery:	None
Behavior:	Soaring, no wing flapping, teetering back and forth.
Habitat:	Open, arid, near high cliffs
Similar species and how were they eliminated:	Eliminated Turkey Vulture due to banded tail and dark head. Eliminated Common Black-Hawk due to narrow wings and different band pattern on tail, it didn't end with a white tail band.
Previous experience with this & similar species:	I've seen two Zone-tailed Hawks in Arizona, I've seen the Common Black-Hawk three times in Utah before, and I've seen numerous Turkey Vultures all over.
References consulted:	I emailed a few pictures to Jerry Liguori to confirm my initial identification, he agreed that is was a Zone-tailed Hawk.
Description from:	From memory
Observer:	Taylor Abbott
Observer's address:
Observer's e-mail address:	**
Other observers who independently identified this bird:	Jerry Liguori (from photos I emailed him)
Date prepared:	June 14, 2016
Additional material:	Photos
Additional comments: