Verification of Unusual
Sight Record
For Utah
Rec. # 2017-73
| Common name: |
Common Redpoll |
| Scientific name: | Acanthis flammea |
| Date: | 11-17-17 |
| Time: | 10:30 am |
| Length of time observed: | 3 minutes |
| Number: | 1 |
| Age: | Adult |
| Sex: | Unknown |
| Location: | Powder Mountain Ski Resort |
| County: | Weber |
| Latilong: | |
| Elevation: | 8600 |
| Distance to bird: | As close as 20 |
| Optical equipment: | Pentax Binos & Canon camera |
| Weather: | Partly foggy-sun |
| Light Conditions: | Low light. Foggy at the time of photo. |
| Description: Size of bird: | 4.5 |
| (Description:) Basic Shape: | Finch |
| (Description:) Overall Pattern: | Pale/gray |
| (Description:) Bill Type: | Finch |
|
(Description:)
Field Marks and Identifying Characteristics: |
Red forehead, black on face at base of bill, streaking on
flanks, yellow finch-like bill, notched bill. First ID d by call. (see photo) |
| Song or call & method of delivery: | Nasal call with upturn in pitch. This is how the bird was noticed amongst 2000+ GCRF. |
| Behavior: | Feeding with GCRF flock along open hillside and then flew to a Quaking Aspen before flying off to the W. |
| Habitat: | Open hillside of dead Mule s Ear. |
| Similar
species and
how were they eliminated: |
Hoary Redpoll would ve been paler with much less streaking on flank. Pine Siskin is absent of any red. |
| Previous
experience with this & similar species: |
Have seen hundreds of these from AK, as well as the irruption Winter of 2012-13 in Northern Utah. |
| References consulted: | None. |
| Description from: | From photo(s) taken at the time of the sighting |
| Observer: | Mike Hearell |
| Observer's address: | Pleasant View, Utah |
| Observer's e-mail address: | ** |
| Other observers who independently identified this bird: | Stratton Hatfield, Taylor Abbott, Julia Garvin, Ralph, and two others. |
| Date prepared: | 12/19/2017 |
| Additional material: | Photos |
| Additional comments: | Will send photos as soon as I find them. My iPad crashed. |