Verification of Unusual
Sight Record
For Utah
Rec. # 2022-65
| Common name: |
Brown-capped Rosy-Finch |
| Scientific name: | Leucosticte australis |
| Date: | 27 November 2022 |
| Time: | 1130 |
| Length of time observed: | Less than one minute by itself. About forty minutes with the other Rosy-Finches. |
| Number: | 1 |
| Age: | unknown |
| Sex: | unknown |
| Location: | LaSal Mountains, Loop Road, Pinhook Overlook |
| County: | Grand |
| Latilong: | 38.5602047, -109.2903614 |
| Elevation: | 7,620' |
| Distance to bird: | 25 yards |
| Optical equipment: | 8x42 Nikon binocular |
| Weather: | 32ºF Mostly cloudy. BWS 2 Light breeze. |
| Light Conditions: | Bright from overhead sun. Some shade from passing clouds. |
| Description: Size of bird: | Small |
| (Description:) Basic Shape: | More horizontal than vertical 'solid' body. |
| (Description:) Overall Pattern: | Various brown tones. |
| (Description:) Bill Type: | Strong, seed-cracking, cone shape. |
|
(Description:)
Field Marks and Identifying Characteristics: |
Cone shaped yellowish bill with dark tip. Dark forehead blending into
grayish-brownish cap. Neck and nape warm brown. Back same warm brown on
edges of feathers, centers of feathers rich brown. Breast warm brown. (see photos) |
| Song or call & method of delivery: | "Chew" calls heard when the whole flock was in the air. |
| Behavior: | Actively feeding on weed seeds on a rocky slope. |
| Habitat: |
Somewhat steep slopes, rocky outcrops. Pinyon Pine, Juniper and
Gambel's Oak had burned in early 2000's. Trees largely gone, mostly
mixed grass, low shrub, weeds. Black-top road runs thru it. |
| Similar
species and
how were they eliminated: |
Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch had very obvious gray crown. Black Rosy-Finches had obvious black or gray plumage. |
| Previous
experience with this & similar species: |
In 1991, I wintered in Slickrock CO and had a
flock of Brown-capped Rosy-Finches come to my bird feeder. I have seen a couple distant flocks of Black Rosy-Finches near the Book Cliffs in Grand County 2017-19, and saw Gray-crowned Rosy-Finches for the first time on 8 JAN 2020. Between 9 JAN 2020 and 19 MAR 2021 I observed Brown-capped Rosy-Finches 18 times near this location. |
| References consulted: |
National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America, Birds of North America (birdsna.org) from Cornell Lab of Ornitholog |
| Description from: |
From memory From photo(s) taken at the time of the sighting |
| Observer: | Steve Heinrich |
| Observer's address: | 238 Miller Lane Castle Valley Utah 84532-9613 |
| Observer's e-mail address: | ** |
| Other observers who independently identified this bird: | Glenn Kincaid |
| Date prepared: | 29 NOV 2022 |
| Additional material: | Photos |
| Additional comments: |