Verification of Unusual
Sight Record
For Utah
Rec. # 2021-27
| Common name: |
Vaux's Swift |
| Scientific name: | Chaetura vauxi |
| Date: | 5/8/2021 |
| Time: | 11:30 AM |
| Length of time observed: | |
| Number: | 1 |
| Age: | Adult |
| Sex: | |
| Location: | Skipper Bay Trail |
| County: | Utah |
| Latilong: | |
| Elevation: | |
| Distance to bird: | |
| Optical equipment: | Binoculars |
| Weather: | Windy |
| Light Conditions: | Sunny |
| Description: Size of bird: | 5 in |
| (Description:) Basic Shape: | cigar |
| (Description:) Overall Pattern: | plain brown |
| (Description:) Bill Type: | |
|
(Description:)
Field Marks and Identifying Characteristics: |
Small, brown swift with pale throat/chest and a sharply contrasting dark cap. Looked kind of like how people describe it as a "flying cigar." |
| Song or call & method of delivery: | |
| Behavior: | Fast, rapid wing beats, faster than nearby swallows, erratic flight. |
| Habitat: | Near Utah Lake, grassy field with water trenches, treeline nearby. |
| Similar
species and
how were they eliminated: |
Vaux's Swift vs White-throated Swift (nearby): -Brown instead of black -No visible white (very pale throat/chest) -Much smaller |
| Previous
experience with this & similar species: |
|
| References consulted: | Definitely a swift, seen WTSW before |
| Description from: | From memory |
| Observer: | Wren Willet [Ben Stradling] |
| Observer's address: | |
| Observer's e-mail address: | ** |
| Other observers who independently identified this bird: | |
| Date prepared: | 5/8/2021 |
| Additional material: | |
| Additional comments: |