Verification of Unusual Sight Record
For Utah

Rec. # 2022-16


Common name:

Vaux's Swift

Scientific name: Chaetura
Date: 4/23/22
Time: 3:20pm
Length of time observed: 15 min
Number: 1 (at least)
Age: AHY
Sex: N/A
Location: 21st Pond
County: Weber
Latilong: 41.232593,-111.9951757
Elevation: 4275'
Distance to bird: 50-150 yds
Optical equipment: Swarovski NL pure 8x42, Canon 60D with 100-400 IS lens
Weather: Overcast but warm
Light Conditions: Diffuse sunlight
Description:        Size of bird: Small
(Description:)       Basic Shape: Cigar with wings
(Description:)  Overall Pattern: Overall dark with lighter patches on rump and throat
(Description:)            Bill Type: Extremely tiny
(Description:)                              
Field Marks and
Identifying Characteristics:
Tiny swift flying around the pond alternating flurries of rapid wingbeats with long glides on downcurved wings. Classic chaetura swift "cigar with wings" shape with tiny bill, short body and long pointed, evenly tapered wings. Throat and rump with contrasting paler gray color which can barely be seen in my poor backlit photos.
(see photos)
Song or call & method of delivery: None that I could hear.
Behavior: Was flying low around the perimeter of the pond with the other swallows and swifts at times making feeding forays into the trees. Vaux's tend to be more arboreal than Chimney Swifts so this pattern fit.
Habitat: Urban pond ringed with trees
Similar species and how
were they eliminated:
Smaller and darker with different way of flying than any swallow species.

White-throated Swift will show much more contrasting white on the plumage and have a more pointed tail.

Chimney Swift are very similar but lack the paler throat and rump and will have longer wings and a longer tail. Chimney Swifts will also show bulging inner secondaries on the wings which this bird lacked and show more evenly tapered wings.
Previous experience with
this & similar species:
Have seen hundreds in Washington state and have seen several in Utah.
References consulted: Sibley's 2nd edition
Description from: Notes taken at the time of the sighting
From photo(s) taken at the time of the sighting
Observer: Kenny Frisch
Observer's address: 4609 S Wallace Ln Holladay, UT 84117
Observer's e-mail address: **
Other observers who independently identified this bird: Noah Strycker saw presumably the same bird the next day
Date prepared: 5/7/22
Additional material: Photos,
Additional comments: Possibly a second swift since every time I would scan around the pond, I would see a Vaux's Swift which seemed unlikely if there was only one bird present.

Here is my ebird checklist for the sighting: https://ebird.org/checklist/S107836437