Verification of Unusual Sight Record
For Utah

Rec. # 2018-37


Common name:

Prothonotary Warbler

Scientific name: Protonotaria citrea
Date: August 26, 2018
Time: 9:00 am
Length of time observed: 4 minutes
Number: 1
Age: adult
Sex: male
Location: Garr Ranch spring, Antelope Island State Park
County: Davis
Latilong:  
Elevation:  
Distance to bird: 10 feet
Optical equipment: 8x42 and 10x42 binocs
Weather: light breeze, warm
Light Conditions: diffuse sunlight (high clouds, smoky)
Description:        Size of bird: warbler
(Description:)       Basic Shape: warbler
(Description:)  Overall Pattern: yellow and gray
(Description:)            Bill Type: warbler-like
(Description:)                              
Field Marks and
Identifying Characteristics:
The blue-gray wings against a yellow body initially caught my attention. The bird was in a thick under-story, and only brief glimpses of various parts of the bird were made. I got Kathy on the bird, and between the two of us we pieced it together. The blue-gray wings were unbarred, and the back was olive-yellow. The contrast between the wings and back was quite strong. Breast was yellow. The head was solidly yellow with a large beady black eye. There was no eye ring. The bill was completely black. The upper side of the tail was dark gray. Neither of us got a look at the under-tail coverts.
Song or call & method of delivery: none
Behavior: Gleaning insects from thick under story branches and leaves. Was moving around quickly, making it difficult to track. When it did appear, it was always partially obscured. After a few minutes (and when I got my camera ready) it moved further back into vegetation that was not accessible. Another hour of searching was unsuccessful.
Habitat: Riparian and marsh vegetation
Similar species and how
were they eliminated:
Wilson's Warbler female/juvenile head not completely yellow, has eye ring, wing is greenish gray, and bill is not black.
Blue-winged Warbler has white wing bars and black eye line.
Yellow Warbler female has yellowish wings and back.
Yellow Warbler male has yellowish wings and streaking on breast.
Previous experience with
this & similar species:
Very familiar with Yellow and Wilson's Warblers. Have previously seen Prothonotary 5 times in Utah, and many times elsewhere. Just a few sightings of Blue-winged.
References consulted: Sibley
Description from: From memory
Observer: Joel and Kathy Beyer
Observer's address: Salt Lake City, UT
Observer's e-mail address: **
Other observers who independently identified this bird:  
Date prepared: September 2, 2018
Additional material:  
Additional comments: