Verification of Unusual Sight Record
For Utah

Rec. # 2021-24


Common name:

Vaux's Swift

Scientific name: Chaetura vauxi
Date: 4-24-2021
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Length of time observed: ~45 seconds
Number: 1
Age: unknown
Sex: unkown
Location: Utah Lake Northshore Trail
County: Utah
Latilong: 40.360930, -111.873282
Elevation: 4,488
Distance to bird: 60-100 yards
Optical equipment: Leica Ultravid 8x42 HD
Weather: Broken Clouds/Overcast
Light Conditions: Good
Description:        Size of bird: Swallow Sized - maybe 4.5-5 inches
(Description:)       Basic Shape: Swift shaped - "scythe" wing shape
(Description:)  Overall Pattern: Brownish Gray
(Description:)            Bill Type: very small
(Description:)                              
Field Marks and
Identifying Characteristics:
Initially we heard the bird but didn't see it. The high pitched twitter through us a curve ball, we couldn't place the sound. Bryant first spotted the bird, the erratic almost bat-like flight separated it from the swallows. Brownish-gray dark swift with a lighter throat immediately eliminated White-throated Swift, and once we placed the call it was a slam dunk. Short bodied and tailed swift - and the more likely of the two possible Chaetura's.
(see photos)
Song or call & method of delivery: Intermittent, very high pitched twitter, much less "trilly" than a Chimney Swift
Behavior: Foraging with erratic flight over the north shore of the lake, maye 50-60 feet above the ground
Habitat: Shoreline
Similar species and how
were they eliminated:
Chimney Swift - call eliminated CHSW. Also - VASW are almost annual vagrants here in Utah, CHSW rarely venture west of the Rockies.
Previous experience with
this & similar species:
I've seen VASW numerous times in California and Washington State. Just spent 5 days in Texas with CHSW constantly flying overhead, and also had them roosting and nesting next door in Wisconsin.
References consulted: Memory, calls compared to Audubon phone app.
Description from: From memory
From photo(s) taken at the time of the sighting
Observer: Max Malmquist
Observer's address: 2377 East Boyes Street
Observer's e-mail address: **
Other observers who independently identified this bird: Mike Malmquist, Bryant Olsen
Date prepared: 4-24-2021
Additional material: Photos   Ebird Checklist - cropped photos available if needed.
Additional comments: https://ebird.org/checklist/S86296595