Sighting Record for Utah

Common name:	Brown-capped Rosy-Finch
Scientific name:	Leucosticte australis
Date:	11/28/2017
Time:	13:26
Length of time observed:	5 minutes
Number:	30
Age:
Sex:
Location:	Latigo Wind Farm along CR 196, Monticello.
County:	San Juan
Latilong:	37.8923845, -109.3999783
Elevation:	7,900
Distance to bird:	5 meters
Optical equipment:	Nikon Monarch 7 10x42, Canon 7D MII + Canon 400mm f5.6
Weather:	Windy
Light Conditions:	Photos backlit
Description: Size of bird:	House Finch size
(Description:) Basic Shape:	Finch shape
(Description:) Overall Pattern:	Grayish brown
(Description:) Bill Type:	Conical.
(Description:) Field Marks and Identifying Characteristics:	Grayish brown overall. Yellow bill. Dark cap with lighter crown and very little contrast between dark and light. Rosy based primaries and rosy flanks. (see photos)
Song or call & method of delivery:	Calling
Behavior:	Eating russian thistle (Salsosa sp) seeds and grit from ground.
Habitat:	Plowed ground
Similar species and how were they eliminated:	Lighter in color than Black Rosy-Finch. Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch eliminated by low contrast head pattern. Gray-crowned shows obvious contrasting gray crown against brown head.
Previous experience with this & similar species:	I watched a flock of all three Rosy-Finches last winter at this same location off and on for two months. I'm very familiar with this species in winter.
References consulted:	Sibley's Guide to Birds.
Description from:	From photo(s) taken at the time of the sighting
Observer:	Will Britton
Observer's address:	Monticello, UT
Observer's e-mail address:	**
Other observers who independently identified this bird:
Date prepared:	11/28/2017
Additional material:	Photos
Additional comments:	I have also observed these birds today (11/29/17) at this same general location.