Verification of Unusual
Sight Record
For Utah
Rec. # 2021-32
| Common name: |
Hudsonian Godwit |
| Scientific name: | Limosa haemastica |
| Date: | 18 May 2021 |
| Time: | 8:50 AM |
| Length of time observed: | 10 minutes |
| Number: | 1 |
| Age: | adult |
| Sex: | male |
| Location: | Jackson Flat Reservior, Kanab, Utah (east side of reservior) |
| County: | Kane |
| Latilong: | 37.015954691611356, -112.5061583929354 |
| Elevation: | 4970 feet |
| Distance to bird: | 25 yards |
| Optical equipment: | Leica binoculars, Swarovski Scope |
| Weather: | Clear, 65 degrees |
| Light Conditions: | Bright |
| Description: Size of bird: | Large shorebird, approx 15" |
| (Description:) Basic Shape: | Long legs, heavy bodied, long neck |
| (Description:) Overall Pattern: | rusty belly and dark grayish brown back, paler head with whitish supercilium and darker cap |
| (Description:) Bill Type: | bicolored, long, slightly upturned, pinkish base with black tip |
|
(Description:)
Field Marks and Identifying Characteristics: |
Large shorebird with rusty belly and dark back. Bill was bicolored, long,
slightly upturned, pinkish base with black tip. In flight, dark axillaries and
underwing covers and the white rump patch was visible, as was the black terminal
band on tail. Also in flight the bird showed dark under wings and a narrow white
wing strip (see photos) |
| Song or call & method of delivery: | n/a |
| Behavior: | Feeding in shallow water by probing. Flew off after 10 or so minutes |
| Habitat: | Shoreline of freshwater Jackson Flat Reservior |
| Similar
species and
how were they eliminated: |
Elimination: Bird was too dark for Marbled Godwit, bicolored bill eliminated Bar-tailed Godwit and dark underwings eliminated Black-tailed Godwit |
| Previous
experience with this & similar species: |
I have seen Marbled Godwit in numbers in California and rarely in Connecticut in fall migration. Bar-tailed Godwit I have seen many times in Europe, Australia and New Zealand. Black-tailed Godwit I have seen many times in Europe. Hudsonian I've seen several times it always strikes me as a little smaller and darker than the others. |
| References consulted: | In the field, iBird Pro |
| Description from: |
Notes taken at the time of the sighting From photo(s) taken at the time of the sighting |
| Observer: | Gina Nichol |
| Observer's address: | 32 Jerimoth Drive, Branford, CT 06405 |
| Observer's e-mail address: | ** |
| Other observers who independently identified this bird: | Pat Lueders, Hugh Simmons |
| Date prepared: | May 26, 2021 |
| Additional material: | Photos |
| Additional comments: | [nnina] |