Verification of Unusual
Sight Record
For Utah
Rec. # 2022-10
| Common name: |
Eastern Bluebird |
| Scientific name: | Sialia sialis |
| Date: | 11/9/2021 |
| Time: | 11:00 am |
| Length of time observed: | 5-10 min |
| Number: | 3 |
| Age: | Adult |
| Sex: | 1 male, 2 female |
| Location: | Lytle Ranch Preserve |
| County: | Washington |
| Latilong: | 37.1544168,-114.0180881 |
| Elevation: | |
| Distance to bird: | less than 50m |
| Optical equipment: | 10x42 Nikon EDG binoculars |
| Weather: | Clear, warm |
| Light Conditions: | Good |
| Description: Size of bird: | 6-8 in |
| (Description:) Basic Shape: | Thrush with shortish tail |
| (Description:) Overall Pattern: | Blue back, reddish chest and throat |
| (Description:) Bill Type: | |
|
(Description:)
Field Marks and Identifying Characteristics: |
Bluebirds with red chests and red on throat (not blue throat, ruling out WEBL); male deeper blue than MOBL. Different from flock of MOBL seen earlier in the day. |
| Song or call & method of delivery: | Not vocalizing |
| Behavior: | Foraging on the ground then perching in large cottonwood. |
| Habitat: | Along the edge of the wash near the trail/road, along the fence line. Upland mojave desert vegetation across the road. |
| Similar
species and
how were they eliminated: |
Similar to Mountain Bluebird and Western Bluebird. Ruled out Mountain Bluebird because the male was deeper blue than typical Mountain Bluebirds. All birds had reddish chests, also ruling out Mountain Bluebird. Throats were reddish as well, not blue, ruling out Western Bluebird. |
| Previous
experience with this & similar species: |
I have lived and worked in areas where all 3 species have occurred (Mostly MOBL in Utah, WEBL in Arizona, and EABL in Indiana). I have worked on being able to distinguish EABL and WEBL when doing surveys with Bryant Olsen and Tracy Aviary when we have seen either species and had to tell apart from the more common MOBL, including the EABLs found along the Jordan River Parkway near eBay during a Christmas Bird Count in 2017 and WEBLs found along the Jordan River Parkway near the Tracy Aviary Jordan River Nature Center in November 2020 and again January 2021. |
| References consulted: | Field guide mobile applications (eg Merlin) and online field guides (eg All About Birds) |
| Description from: | Notes taken at the time of the sighting |
| Observer: | Terri Pope |
| Observer's address: | 492 E Welby Ave, South Salt Lake, UT, 84115 |
| Observer's e-mail address: | ** |
| Other observers who independently identified this bird: | |
| Date prepared: | 3/30/2022 |
| Additional material: | |
| Additional comments: | I do not carry a camera while birding. The birds were not vocalizing, but were too far away to get a decent recording anyway. |