Verification of Unusual
Sight Record
For Utah
Rec. # 2018-23
| Common name: |
Yellow-throated Vireo |
| Scientific name: | Vireo flavifrons |
| Date: | 05/18/2018 |
| Time: | 1739 hrs. |
| Length of time observed: | 5-10 minutes |
| Number: | 1 |
| Age: | adult |
| Sex: | not known |
| Location: | Olympus Cove |
| County: | Salt Lake |
| Latilong: | 40°'44.2"N 111°'24.2"W |
| Elevation: | 5150 ft |
| Distance to bird: | 12 - 15 ft |
| Optical equipment: | Sony RX10iv @ 220mm, Swarovski 7x30 binoculars |
| Weather: | partly cloudy following a thunderstorm with .06" rain, calm, 60 degrees |
| Light Conditions: | bright shade, no shadows |
| Description: Size of bird: | about 5" |
| (Description:) Basic Shape: | stocky |
| (Description:) Overall Pattern: | yellowish green head, yellow throat and upper breast blueish gray back |
| (Description:) Bill Type: | strong like a vireo |
|
(Description:)
Field Marks and Identifying Characteristics: |
I wrote the following later in the evening to the bird list serves: This
afternoon after the thunderstorms past was sitting on the couch for a cup of tea
with binoculars and camera at the ready. Saw my FOS warbling vireo and a few
minutes later there appeared another vireo with 2 strong wing bars. I
immediately thought Cassin s but then, wait a second, the colors are backwards.
An apparent yellow-throated vireo! Observed closely. Had yellow green head with
a more yellow throat, blueish gray back, 2 strong wing bars, the eye ring
impressed me as more yellow than the photos show, only stayed around less than
10 minutes foraging in the Gambel Oaks. (see photos) |
| Song or call & method of delivery: |
I was inside and did not hear |
| Behavior: | foraging, captured and consumed caterpillar as I watched and photographed |
| Habitat: | Gambel Oaks |
| Similar
species and
how were they eliminated: |
As noted above I immediately thought Cassin's vireo when I first saw the 2 wing bars. I had just seen the warbling vireo a few minutes before but hadn't seen any other vireo for a couple years. But I quickly realized the basic colors were reversed and the eye ring was quite yellow. |
| Previous
experience with this & similar species: |
Never seen a yellow-throated before but have seen both the plumbeous and Cassin's vireos in my yard in the last few years. |
| References consulted: | As soon as the bird disappeared I consulted Sibley's Guide to Birds and later went online to All About Birds |
| Description from: |
From: Notes made later From photo(s) taken at the time of the sighting |
| Observer: | David McCoy |
| Observer's address: | 4257 S Jupiter Dr Millcreek Ut 84124 |
| Observer's e-mail address: | ** |
| Other observers who independently identified this bird: | NA |
| Date prepared: | 05/19/2018 |
| Additional material: | Photos |
| Additional comments: | will send photos to Milt Moody |