Sighting Record for Utah

Common name:	Vaux's Swift
Scientific name:	Chaeturi vauxi
Date:	May 1, 2018
Time:	10-11:30 a.m.
Length of time observed:	Conservatively, 21 minutes. Saw the bird seven times for an estimated 3-4 minutes with each observation.
Number:	1
Age:	Adult
Sex:	Unknown
Location:	Salt Lake International Center
County:	Salt Lake
Latilong:	40.772846 112.011054
Elevation:	4288
Distance to bird:	Wide range at the bird's discretion: 50-150 yards
Optical equipment:	8 x 42 binos
Weather:	Sunny, average temps for early May
Light Conditions:	Full sun
Description: Size of bird:	Small
(Description:) Basic Shape:	Body like a stubby tube with a very narrow scimitar for wings
(Description:) Overall Pattern:	Dark with pale throat into upper breast, and pale rump
(Description:) Bill Type:	Couldn't see it, therefore; tiny.
(Description:) Field Marks and Identifying Characteristics:	Very small and fluttery; in the size range of Northern Rough-winged Swallows that were flying around and may be nesting in the hotel over which the swift flew. Dark coloring with remarkably stubby body especially the tail. Very narrow wings at base out to tip. Pale dusky-grayish throat and upper breast which blended into dark body color smoothly without line of demarcation. Bird banked dipping a wing toward observers once in favorable viewing light, revealing the rump paler than the dark dorsal side. Wing beat pattern was to flutter and then do a swooping glide with wings set. Remained at an altitude estimated at 25-30 yards higher than a 4-story hotel with one swoop to within 50 yards above us.
Song or call & method of delivery:	Utterly, completely silent.
Behavior:	Flying swirly flights above the Holiday Inn Suites and environs, likely gleaning insects, but the bird seemed relaxed and not foraging with urgency.
Habitat:	Business, industrial and travel complex.
Similar species and how were they eliminated:	From Chimney Swift: Bird had a very stubby tail, a noticeably pale gray throat in contrast to body, a pale rump, and was silent in comparison to its chatty sister species. From Black Swift: Bird was delicate and small with a very stubby body, especially the tail rather than the robust Purple Martin- sized BLSW with broad-based wings; and it had a pale gray throat and a pale rump. From White-throated Swift: No white on review bird. All swallow sp: Review bird was small, delicate and fluttery in close comparison with Northern Rough-winged Swallows; review bird's wings were extremely narrow base-to-tip and the tail was extremely short and stubby.
Previous experience with this & similar species:	UBRC records 2007-06 and 2011-19, plus several birds at Glacier NP in 2014. Chimney Swift: Extensive experience in my youth; White-throated Swifts and all Utah swallows annually; none with Black Swift.
References consulted:	Sibley
Description from:	Notes made later
Observer:	Kristin Purdy
Observer's address:	Ogden
Observer's e-mail address:	**
Other observers who independently identified this bird:	Pomera Fronce
Date prepared:	May 1, 2018
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