Verification of Unusual Sight Record
For Utah
Rec. # 2018-14

Common name:

Zone-tailed Hawk
Scientific name: Buteo albonotatus
Date: 4/27/2018
Time: 6:00PM
Length of time observed: 10-15 minutes
Number: 1
Age: Adult
Sex: unknown
Location:  Pine Park
County: Washington
Latilong:  
Elevation:  
Distance to bird:  
Optical equipment: 10x42 binoculars, Canon 7D 300mm with 1.4x TC (420mm equiv.)
Weather: Sunny and clear, very windy
Light Conditions: Good
Description:        Size of bird:  
(Description:)       Basic Shape:  
(Description:)  Overall Pattern:  
(Description:)            Bill Type:  
(Description:)                              
Field Marks and
Identifying Characteristics:

All dark Buteo with bold and thick black and white tail bands. Dark trailing edge of wing. Head obviously feathered and yellow bill clearly seen. Wing shape: long and skinny with no bulging secondaries. See this eBird checklist: https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S45092336.
(see photos)
Song or call & method of delivery:  
Behavior:  
Habitat:  
Similar species and how
were they eliminated:		 Common Black-Hawk: eliminated by wing shape. Turkey Vulture: eliminated by plumage.
Previous experience with
this & similar species:		 Second Zone-tailed in Utah, but have experience from Arizona and Texas. Extensive experience with Common Black-Hawk from Utah and Arizona.
References consulted:  
Description from: From photo(s) taken at the time of the sighting
Observer: Neil Paprocki, Evan Buechley
Observer's address: Salt Lake City
Observer's e-mail address: **
Other observers who independently identified this bird:  
Date prepared: 5/1/2018
Additional material: Photos
Additional comments: Zone-tailed Hawks are seen nearly annually in Washington County at a few different locations -- it is possible, and very likely that a few breeding pairs exist in the county. There are at least 1-2 other credible sightings already from a different location in Washington County in 2018: https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S44991955.