Sighting Record for Utah

Common name:	Swallow-tailed Kite
Scientific name:	Elanoides forficatus
Date:	06/14/2019
Time:	morning, before 11 a.m.
Length of time observed:	10 seconds
Number:	1
Age:	unknown
Sex:	unknown
Location:	I-15, south of Spanish Fork, travelling to Tropic
County:	unkown
Latilong:	unknown
Elevation:	unknown
Distance to bird:	approximately 75 feet
Optical equipment:	eyes only
Weather:	clear sky, sunny, greater than 65 degree fahrenheit
Light Conditions:	excellent
Description: Size of bird:
(Description:) Basic Shape:	Kite shaped
(Description:) Overall Pattern:	distinctive black and white contrasting along wings.
(Description:) Bill Type:
(Description:) Field Marks and Identifying Characteristics:	Observed bird flying overhead, above road at an altitude of 50-75 feet estimated. Contrasting black and white underside of wings pronounced with black tail. Later I tried to match the field marks with other raptors, in particular, Buteos, with atypical color morphs but none were a better match than the kite field marks.
Song or call & method of delivery:	no vocalization heard
Behavior:	soaring
Habitat:	sage
Similar species and how were they eliminated:
Previous experience with this & similar species:	Did most of my birding in Florida when I lived there for 25 years. Always looked forward to the spring when swallow-tailed would return to breed, sometimes in groups with dozens of individuals. I am still learning western raptors and the various color morphs. I used Sibley to compare the black and white wings with other potentially occurring raptors. Although a couple do have similar, none showed that pronounced black and white contrast, not to the same degree.
References consulted:	Sibley's
Description from:	From memory
Observer:	Tom Davidowicz
Observer's address:	10866 S. Langford Lane, 2063, south jordan, UT 84095
Observer's e-mail address:	**
Other observers who independently identified this bird:	N/A
Date prepared:	06/17/2019
Additional material:
Additional comments: