Sighting Record for Utah

Common name:	Thick-billed Longspur [Previously McCown's Longspur]
Scientific name:	Rhynchophanes mccownii
Date:	12/20/2020
Time:	1:00 pm
Length of time observed:	Off and on over 2 hours.
Number:	>3
Age:	1st yr-adult
Sex:	M & F
Location:	Ogden Bay WMA - North Access
County:	Weber
Latilong:
Elevation:	4100
Distance to bird:	As close as 20 yards.
Optical equipment:	Pentax 10x50 Binoculars & Vortex Razor Spotting Scope
Weather:	Overcast
Light Conditions:	Flat light
Description: Size of bird:	~6
(Description:) Basic Shape:	Sparrow
(Description:) Overall Pattern:	Brown
(Description:) Bill Type:	Sparrow/Finch, pink
(Description:) Field Marks and Identifying Characteristics:	Finch/Sparrow-like bird that is overall light brown. Pink bill. Head pattern light brown with a slightly darker auricular. Eyebrow light brown or cream colored that runs through eye. Back streaked with very dark brown. Wings brown, but with darker primaries that are pale tipped. Rusty median coverts. Underside Buffy gray in coloration, males had differing degrees of fading black bib while female/first year types did not. Short tail with white outer tail feathers sometimes visible while foraging. Tail pattern of inverted black T on white tail only sometimes visible with their quick flight combined with mixing in with other species in flight. (see photos)
Song or call & method of delivery:	Did not hear any calls that I could decipher from the very vocal HOLA.
Behavior:	Foraging alongside Horned Larks. Constantly taking flight only to return moments later
Habitat:	Mudflats adjacent to water impoundment WMA.
Similar species and how were they eliminated:	The rusty median coverts are diagnostic for this species among other longspurs. The Lapland has rusty greater coverts and streaked flanks. Chestnut-collared and Smith s either have white or black median coverts. Inverted T tail pattern also diagnostic.
Previous experience with this & similar species:	Have seen multiple Thick-billed and Chestnut-collared longspurs on their breeding grounds in SE Wyoming. Have observed Laplands on their breeding grounds in Nome, AK. Have observed hundreds of Wintering Laplands in Utah and the number of Thick-billed Longspurs observed here is rapidly increasing.
References consulted:	Mostly memory, but did look at Sibley s to search out wether rusty median coverts are ever absent in any plumages.
Description from:	Notes taken at the time of the sighting
Observer:	Mike Hearell
Observer's address:	Pleasant View, UT
Observer's e-mail address:	**
Other observers who independently identified this bird:	12/19/20 Taylor Abbott, Dennis Collins, and Valerie Frokjer. 12/20/20 Bryant Olsen and Bill Hunt.
Date prepared:	12/20/20
Additional material:	Photos
Additional comments:	Originally observed on 12/19/2020, but photos are from 12/20/20