Verification of Unusual
Sight Record
For Utah
Rec. # 2018-03
| Common name: |
Red Phalarope |
| Scientific name: | Phalaropus fulicaria |
| Date: | October 8, 2017 |
| Time: | 12:30 pm |
| Length of time observed: | 45 minutes |
| Number: | 1 |
| Age: | winter adult |
| Sex: | |
| Location: | Antelope Island Causeway/marina dike |
| County: | Davis |
| Latilong: | |
| Elevation: | 4100' |
| Distance to bird: | 20 yards |
| Optical equipment: | Zeiss binos |
| Weather: | wind 20mph |
| Light Conditions: | overcast |
| Description: Size of bird: | sanderling size |
| (Description:) Basic Shape: | wader |
| (Description:) Overall Pattern: | gray, white and black |
| (Description:) Bill Type: | thick, sandpiper-like |
|
(Description:)
Field Marks and Identifying Characteristics: |
Short,thick black bill. Bill thickest at base, with blunt tip. Head white, with elongated black mark behind eye, and blackish patch going from top rear of head down to nape. Dark eye. Smooth-looking gray back and sides. Tail black above, white below. Primaries black with white edging. Breast and undersides white. Small blackish shoulder patch. (see photos) |
| Song or call & method of delivery: | none |
| Behavior: | typical phalarope feeding style of swimming jerkily while pecking at water surface. |
| Habitat: | salt water, bird riding lake swells of 2 feet alongside marina jetty. |
| Similar
species and
how were they eliminated: |
Red-necked Phalarope has finer bill. Back feathers have dark centers with white
edging giving the back a scaly appearance. Wilson's Phalarope larger, has long needle-like bill. Markings on head are gray. Sandpipers and other similar waders eliminated by lack of distinctive markings on head, coloring and feeding style. |
| Previous
experience with this & similar species: |
Seen in all West Coast states, and several times over the years in Utah. Red-necked and Wilson's seen by the thousands every year in Utah. |
| References consulted: | Sibley, Nat'l Geographic, and The Shorebird Guide. |
| Description from: | From photo(s) taken at the time of the sighting |
| Observer: | Kathy and Joel Beyer |
| Observer's address: | Salt Lake City, UT |
| Observer's e-mail address: | ** |
| Other observers who independently identified this bird: | |
| Date prepared: | January 14, 2018 |
| Additional material: | Photos |
| Additional comments: |