Verification of Unusual
Sight Record
For Utah
Rec. # 2018-54
| Common name: |
Vaux's Swift |
| Scientific name: | Chaetura vauxi |
| Date: | 8/16/18 |
| Time: | 6 PM |
| Length of time observed: | 5 min |
| Number: | 1 |
| Age: | N/A |
| Sex: | N/A |
| Location: | Silver Lake |
| County: | Salt Lake |
| Latilong: | 40.60424,-111.58835 |
| Elevation: | 8707' |
| Distance to bird: | 100 yards |
| Optical equipment: | Pentax ED 8x 43 binos |
| Weather: | Sunny |
| Light Conditions: | Sunny |
| Description: Size of bird: | Smallish |
| (Description:) Basic Shape: | Cigar with sickle wings |
| (Description:) Overall Pattern: | Dark overall with paler throat and rump |
| (Description:) Bill Type: | Tiny |
|
(Description:)
Field Marks and Identifying Characteristics: |
Typical Chaetura swift shape with cigar shaped body with short tail and curved back wings. Looked more compact than I would expect from a Chimney Swift. Wings looked broadest next to the body. Throat and rump looked much paler than the rest of the body. |
| Song or call & method of delivery: | N/A |
| Behavior: | Foraging with a mixed flock of swallows. Would intersperse rapid wingbeats with glides. Fast flier. |
| Habitat: | Mountain riparian. |
| Similar
species and
how were they eliminated: |
Chimney Swift has darker throat and rump and looks longer-winged and longer tailed. |
| Previous
experience with this & similar species: |
Have seen hundreds of Vaux's Swifts in Washington and hundreds of Chimney Swifts in New York. |
| References consulted: | National Geographic 7th edition and Sibleys 2nd edition |
| Description from: | Notes taken at the time of the sighting |
| Observer: | Kenny Frisch |
| Observer's address: | 4609 S Wallace Ln Holladay, UT 84117 |
| Observer's e-mail address: | ** |
| Other observers who independently identified this bird: | Rachel LeBlanc had presumably the same bird the next day. |
| Date prepared: | 10/8/18 |
| Additional material: | No_additional_Materials |
| Additional comments: |