Sighting Record for Utah

Common name:	Tennessee Warbler
Scientific name:	Leiothlypis peregrina
Date:	September 30, 2018
Time:	10:15
Length of time observed:	5-minutes
Number:	1
Age:	Unknown – non-breeding adult/immature
Sex:	Unknown
Location:	Lytle Ranch Preserve
County:	Washington
Latilong:	37.143293, -114.022565
Elevation:
Distance to bird:	15-20m
Optical equipment:	10x42 Nikon Monarch Binoculars, Canon 100-400 mm lens with Canon 7D body.
Weather:	10% cloud cover, warm and sunny. No wind.
Light Conditions:	Decent light conditions, sun to the east of me as I watched the bird, looking south/southwest in cottonwood.
Description: Size of bird:	Small, >6” length
(Description:) Basic Shape:	Slim, narrow-bodied bird. Warbler-shape
(Description:) Overall Pattern:	Grayish-green upperparts; light yellow on face, throat, and breast; white belly and undertail coverts.
(Description:) Bill Type:	Relatively long bill for a warbler with a slight curve and sharp tip. Insectivore-type bill
(Description:) Field Marks and Identifying Characteristics:	Light yellow wash across breast and sides, turning to a greenish color in the flanks. Very muddled, faint greenish streaking on sides. Bland greenish-gray upperparts. Broad, pale yellow supercilium and brighter yellow throat, wrapping into dark greenish-gray auriculars. Black lores, thinning behind the eye. White belly, vent, and undertail coverts. White undertail with gray tail tip. Bill sharp with noticeable curve; felt larger than OCWA. Short primary projection and short-tailed look in comparison to other warblers. With large mixed flock of birds 50 yards north of the entrance gate near the water fountain. Was hearing and seeing Yellow-rumped after Yellow-rumped and then heard something different. A high-pitched “seet,” as I watched a bird fly from the picnic area to a single large tree in the “desert” portion of the ranch east of the parking area. Found the bird again 30 feet up and observed/photographed it for 5-10 minutes before losing it high in the tree among 20 or so other warblers. (see photos)
Song or call & method of delivery:	Gave generic “seet” warbler flight calls as it flew from one tree to another. Silent while foraging.
Behavior:	Foraging for insects in mid to upper canopies of tall cottonwoods. Part of a mixed flock of fall warblers, mostly YRWA.
Habitat:	Mixed desert scrub and riparian area with abundant cottonwoods and other deciduous trees near river.
Similar species and how were they eliminated:	Orange-crowned Warbler: Solid white undertail coverts and belly, much more white on belly than expected for OCWA. Prominent dark eye line with long, broad supercilium. Larger bill with distinct curve, but similarly sharp. Shorter primary projection than OCWA.
Previous experience with this & similar species:	Have seen TEWA numerous times in Texas, Minnesota, Iowa, New Hampshire, Vermont, Virginia, North Carolina, etc. Most sightings were of breeding plumage birds, but have encountered a handful of non-breeding/immature types in Utah.
References consulted:	Sibley Guide to Birds, Macaulay Library.
Description from:	Notes taken at time of sighting Frome Photos
Observer:	Kendall Watkins
Observer's address:	2622 W Dry Creek Drive, Riverton 84065
Observer's e-mail address:	**
Other observers who independently identified this bird:	None that I know of. Told Steve and Cindy Sommerfield about the bird while there, but not sure if they ever saw it.
Date prepared:	February 2, 2021
Additional material:	Photos
Additional comments:	https://ebird.org/checklist/S48844027