Verification of Unusual
Sight Record
For Utah
Rec. # 2022-53
| Common name: |
Wood Thrush |
| Scientific name: | Hylocichla mustelina |
| Date: | Oct. 9 & 10, 2022 |
| Time: | 5pm & 3pm |
| Length of time observed: | 1/2 hour to 10 minutes |
| Number: | 1 |
| Age: | mature |
| Sex: | no way to tell |
| Location: | 1709 S. Lee Dr. Kanab, UT |
| County: | Kane |
| Latilong: | |
| Elevation: | 5,000 feet |
| Distance to bird: | 10 to 25 feet from inside house |
| Optical equipment: | 2 binocs, Nikon 10x25 and Swift 8.5x44 |
| Weather: | sunny, partly cloudy |
| Light Conditions: | mostly in sun |
| Description: Size of bird: | smaller than robin |
| (Description:) Basic Shape: | thrush |
| (Description:) Overall Pattern: | reddish brown back, distinct dark spots on breast |
| (Description:) Bill Type: | faint yellow at base to darker tip |
|
(Description:)
Field Marks and Identifying Characteristics: |
Mainly saw it on the ground going through vegetation and space between on lawn. Stayed on the ground putting bill in dead vegetation. The field marks were very distinct between the orange tinted brown on back to the dark eyes with white eye rings and the very dark distinct spots on the breast. [Added note - "...yesterday when I saw it at first it was at one of my nearby birdbaths..."] |
| Song or call & method of delivery: | did not hear any notes |
| Behavior: | mainly stayed on ground except for going to low branches in pine tree. |
| Habitat: | suburban yard around my house----lawn in front mixed number of trees (mostly pines) and some flowers in pots. |
| Similar
species and
how were they eliminated: |
When I first looked and was it I knew it was a thrush and thought it might be a Hermit thrush. But then seeing the bright color and dark spots knew it was not, and looked at my bird books to make sure. Though it is an eastern bird, and very rarely here I noticed after checking your list that it had been sighted before, but not very often. |
| Previous
experience with this & similar species: |
I have only seen it back in Connecticut where I grew up. I have seen Hermit thrushes here in Utah, usually at higher altitudes. |
| References consulted: | Sibley and Peterson guides. |
| Description from: | Notes taken at the time of the sighting |
| Observer: | Michael Salamacha |
| Observer's address: | 1709 S. Lee Dr. Kanab, UT 84741 |
| Observer's e-mail address: | ** |
| Other observers who independently identified this bird: | no others |
| Date prepared: | 10/11/2022 |
| Additional material: | |
| Additional comments: | Sending this because I noticed on your records that it was truly rare. |