Sighting Record for Utah

Common name:	McCown's Longspur
Scientific name:	Rhynchophanes mccownii
Date:	February 8, 2019
Time:	9:30 am
Length of time observed:	2.5 hours
Number:	1
Age:
Sex:
Location:	SR 68 Mosida Trek Road Area, Utah County, Utah, US
County:	Utah
Latilong:
Elevation:
Distance to bird:	8 ft
Optical equipment:	Vortex Viper 15x50 HD Binos and Canon Powershot SX60
Weather:	sunny
Light Conditions:	light
Description: Size of bird:	sparrow size
(Description:) Basic Shape:	passerine
(Description:) Overall Pattern:
(Description:) Bill Type:	stout orange/pink
(Description:) Field Marks and Identifying Characteristics:	Much grayer and more muted with a smudgy black necklace. When it jumps up it has black inverted T in the tail, very noticeable. Also seen with Dennis, Carolyn and Teresa. I also took my mom back at 3:30 pm and we were able to locate it again by the big white inverted T on the tail, distinctly more white on the tail. (see photo)
Song or call & method of delivery:
Behavior:	sat lower to the ground than the horned larks.
Habitat:	stubby grain fields, side of the road
Similar species and how were they eliminated:	Not a horned lark and much paler than the Lapland Longspurs. Also lacked the black on the darker face pattern that the Lapland has.
Previous experience with this & similar species:	I saw my first one last January in almost the same location with Bryan Shirley
References consulted:	Sibley's, Internet
Description from:	Notes taken at the time of the sighting From photo(s) taken at the time of the sighting
Observer:	Suzi Holt
Observer's address:	551 Saddlebrook Dirve Payson Utah 84651
Observer's e-mail address:	**
Other observers who independently identified this bird:	Kaylene Hamilton, Kathleen, Dennis and Carolyn Shirley, Teresa Pearson and Carol Harris
Date prepared:	February 19 2019
Additional material:	Photo
Additional comments:	This bird was also seen by Terry Ried and we will submit his photo cause it is better than mine.