Sighting Record for Utah

Common name:	Thick-billed (McCown's) Longspur
Scientific name:	Rhynchophanes mccowni
Date:	January 24, 2021
Time:	3:05 pm
Length of time observed:	>1 minute
Number:	1
Age:	Adult
Sex:	Female/1st Winter Type
Location:	Antelope Island State Park – Causeway
County:	Davis
Latilong:	Around mm4 on the south side, well within 50m of the road. Did not save exact coordinates.
Elevation:
Distance to bird:	20-30 meters from the road.
Optical equipment:	10x42 Nikon Monarch Binoculars, Swarovski 20x60 spotting scope.
Weather:	Overcast, snowy. 2+ inches on the ground.
Light Conditions:	Sun behind the clouds, decent light.
Description: Size of bird:
(Description:) Basic Shape:
(Description:) Overall Pattern:
(Description:) Bill Type:
(Description:) Field Marks and Identifying Characteristics:	Field Notes: Female/1st winter type. Chunky, plain-colored Longspur with overall light-brownish upperparts and whitish underparts. Pale brownish auricular borer and broad, pale supercilium and throat. Thick, pale-pinkish bill, much more stout than any other Longspur sp. or Lark. Faint, rusty median wing-coverts noted and distinctive for the species. Watched through the scope as the flock flushed and saw distinctive black, inverted “T” in tail pattern with extensive white outer tail feathers. Was unable to capture photos, but confident in ID. eBird Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S79866405
Song or call & method of delivery:	No audibles
Behavior:	Feeding in pickleweed with 100-200 Horned Larks.
Habitat:	Short-grass/Pickleweed/Playa.
Similar species and how were they eliminated:	Plain, relatively light-brown plumage overall, more similar to Larks than the darker Lapland and Chestnut-collared Longspurs. Weak facial contrast with wide pale supercilium. Thick, pinkish bill and chunky head and obvious pale throat. Extensive white in outer tail feathers with distinct black “T”, ruled out all other Longspur species.
Previous experience with this & similar species:	Quite extensive experience gained this winter with McCown’s, Lapland, and Chestnut-collared Longspurs. Have seen Lapland most frequently and am familiar with their call varieties. Have seen McCown’s during a handful of past winters in Utah and on their breeding grounds in Montana and the Dakotas; have seen Chestnut-collared on breeding territory in Montana and the Dakotas as well.
References consulted:	None
Description from:	NOTES TAKEN AT TIME OF SIGHTING
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:	Quinn Diaz
Date prepared:	March 10, 2021
Additional material:
Additional comments: