Verification of Unusual
Sight Record
For Utah
Rec. # 2022-50
| Common name: |
Thick-billed Kingbird |
| Scientific name: | Tyrannus crassirostris |
| Date: | 10/5/2022 |
| Time: | 12:15pm |
| Length of time observed: | 30 minutes |
| Number: | 1 |
| Age: | ? |
| Sex: | ? |
| Location: | Salt Lake International Center |
| County: | Salt Lake |
| Latilong: | 40.775339, -112.014739 |
| Elevation: | 4250ft |
| Distance to bird: | 20m at closest |
| Optical equipment: | Nikon 10x42 Binoculars |
| Weather: | Sunny, clear, calm, 75F |
| Light Conditions: | Excellent |
| Description: Size of bird: | Large passerine-robin sized |
| (Description:) Basic Shape: | Shape: erect passerine |
| (Description:) Overall Pattern: | dark above, pale below |
| (Description:) Bill Type: | large and stout |
|
(Description:)
Field Marks and Identifying Characteristics: |
While birding the International Center, I caught movement over the pond
and looked up to see a kingbird flying toward me which then land in a
tree nearby, it was back lit so looked black and white to me, so I
thought an Eastern Kingbird which I though would be very late and weird,
but when I got the binos on it and saw the HUGE bill, immediate I
suspected Thick-billed even tough all I could see was its head. It then
took off and did a big sally over the pond, then perched in the top of a
Mulberry tree on a dead branch giving a great close look. Overall a very
larger passerine, bigger than our Kingbirds, dark slaty gray on the
tail, back, upper wings and head with no wing bars or white edges on the
tail. Tail had a brownish cast and back an olive cast, but both very
dark. Thick blackish line covering eyes contrasting with a striking
white throat, breast was pale gray fading to a yellow belly. Bill was
very stout and all black, disproportionally large for a flycatcher, and
very striking. The combination of yellow, white and slate gray with a
huge bill and overall large size is very distinctive and unmistakable. (see photos) |
| Song or call & method of delivery: | None herd |
| Behavior: | Actively sallying over pond, then perching in tops of trees conspicuously |
| Habitat: | Anthropomized-artificial pond with a mix of planted trees and lawn, with some weedy brushy fields intermixed nearby |
| Similar
species and
how were they eliminated: |
Western Kingbird-smaller, smaller bill, white outer tail feathers, pale gray
head and breast, greenish back. Eastern Kingbird-smaller with smaller bill, white trailing edge to tail and white belly Tropical Kingbird-smaller and smaller billed, pale gray head, green back. |
| Previous
experience with this & similar species: |
Yes, several in Mexico in 2016 |
| References consulted: | Memory, Sibley app, Birds of the World |
| Description from: | From photo(s) taken at the time of the sighting |
| Observer: | Bryant Olsen |
| Observer's address: | 84102 |
| Observer's e-mail address: | ** |
| Other observers who independently identified this bird: | Kris Purdy and Pomera Fronce while I was there, many others after |
| Date prepared: | 10/5/2022 |
| Additional material: | Photos |
| Additional comments: | eBird checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S120015592 |