Verification of Unusual
Sight Record
For Utah
Rec. # 2020-49
| Common name: |
Hudsonian Godwit |
| Scientific name: | Limosa Haemastica |
| Date: | 6/24/2020 |
| Time: | 3pm |
| Length of time observed: | 20 minutes |
| Number: | 1 |
| Age: | Adult |
| Sex: | Male |
| Location: | Antelope Island SP - Causeway |
| County: | Davis |
| Latilong: | 41.0894, -112.173333 |
| Elevation: | ~ 4,000ft ASL |
| Distance to bird: | ~ 125yrds |
| Optical equipment: | Vortex Scope, 10 x 42 bins and a bridge camera |
| Weather: | Hot, 90% sunny and 10mph wind |
| Light Conditions: | very bright |
| Description: Size of bird: | large shorebird, roughly the size of the Avocets by it. |
| (Description:) Basic Shape: | the body is football shaped with long legs and neck |
| (Description:) Overall Pattern: | brown/chestnut |
| (Description:) Bill Type: | long upturned |
|
(Description:)
Field Marks and Identifying Characteristics: |
The undersides of the bird where deep chestnut colored with a brown back. the
head was much paler and contrasted with the body color. the bill was upturned
with an orange base and dark tip. (see photos) |
| Song or call & method of delivery: | |
| Behavior: | He was wading in the water about knee high or less foraging for food. |
| Habitat: | mudflats with spares vegetation |
| Similar
species and
how were they eliminated: |
Marbled Godwit do not have chestnut colored bellies and backs are much lighter than HUGO, their faces do not contrast with their body color. Whimbrel, Long-billed Curlew and both Dowitchers were eliminated as all their bills curve downward not up. Long-billed Dowitcher DOES have deep chestnut colored belly but unlike HUGO it's unicolored and non contrasting in the face. plus a dark black bill unlike HUGO. |
| Previous
experience with this & similar species: |
I regularly see Hudsonian Godwits in my home state in Iowa and Nebraska each spring. I have minimum experience with Marbled Godwit seen a couple times in each state of CA, NE, ID and SD. Minimum experience with Long-Billed Curlew in Ne and CA. Minimum experience with Whimbrel in GA, TX and CA. I regularly see both Dowitchers in numerous states both spring and fall. |
| References consulted: | N/A |
| Description from: |
From memory From photo(s) taken at the time of the sighting |
| Observer: | Kadynn Hatfield |
| Observer's address: | 10365 290th St. Silver City Iowa 51571 |
| Observer's e-mail address: | ** |
| Other observers who independently identified this bird: | Lauren Brockway |
| Date prepared: | 9/24/2020 |
| Additional material: | poor pics |
| Additional comments: |