Verification of Unusual
Sight Record
For Utah
Rec. # 2017-37
| Common name: |
Northern Parula |
| Scientific name: | Setophaga americana |
| Date: | May 27, 2017 |
| Time: | 11:15 am |
| Length of time observed: | 20 minutes |
| Number: | 1 |
| Age: | Unknown |
| Sex: | Male |
| Location: | Bryce Canyon NP -- Mossy Cave, Garfield County, Utah, US |
| County: | Garfield |
| Latilong: | Unknown |
| Elevation: | Unknown |
| Distance to bird: | 20' |
| Optical equipment: | Swarovski EL 8.5X42 |
| Weather: | Clear |
| Light Conditions: | Sunny |
| Description: Size of bird: | Warbler |
| (Description:) Basic Shape: | Warbler |
| (Description:) Overall Pattern: | Warbler |
| (Description:) Bill Type: | Lower mandible same color as bib - yellow |
|
(Description:)
Field Marks and Identifying Characteristics: |
This was what I posted as comments in my eBird posting: Saw and heard on both
sides of stream before and after 1st bridge on trail enroute to Mossy cave about
11:15. I recognize this species as rare for this area but am very familiar with
it in my home state of Illinois. Yellow bib with lower mandible same color, with
dark lower border of bib before white belly, gray head, eye arcs visible. Green
patch on back. Voice upward rising but buzzier than what I am used to in
Illinois. Was foraging low and got great looks until other hikers scared it.
Then it went high. No photos but may have audio. (listen to audio) |
| Song or call & method of delivery: | Singing |
| Behavior: | Foraging low. Was spooked by hikers to other side of river. Went high, but came back low. |
| Habitat: | Brushy, low, riparian |
| Similar
species and
how were they eliminated: |
There was no other species that it could have been. I had a distinctive look and saw all the visual characteristics to identify it and it was also singing. My camera battery had failed so I could not get a photo. However, knowing it was rare for the area, I recorded it with my iPhone. It sounded more raspy than the eastern NOPA's I hear but definitely congruent with this species. |
| Previous
experience with this & similar species: |
Extensive. I have 105 eBird sighting entries for this species dating back to September 1983. |
| References consulted: | Sibley's Western Birds |
| Description from: | Notes taken at the time of the sighting |
| Observer: | Pete Fenner |
| Observer's address: | 1283 N Crabtree Court, East Peoria, IL 61611 |
| Observer's e-mail address: | ** |
| Other observers who independently identified this bird: | Keith St. Clair (he is a non-birder) |
| Date prepared: | 5/31/2017 |
| Additional material: | Tape - Sent to: miltonmoody@yahoo.com |
| Additional comments: | I saw this bird very well. I have very little doubt about the sighting. I am a cautious and conservative birder, and if I doubted it, I wouldn't have posted it to eBird. |