Sighting Record for Utah

Common name:	Chestnut-collared Longspur
Scientific name:	Calcarius ornatus
Date:	1/19/23
Time:	2:25 PM
Length of time observed:	Very brief- maybe one or two minutes.
Number:	1
Age:	unsure
Sex:	Male
Location:	North 18000 West, Howell, Utah, USA
County:	Box Elder
Latilong:	41.74, -112.454
Elevation:	4560' +/-
Distance to bird:	25 yards
Optical equipment:	Swarovski 12X50 EL binoculars
Weather:	Cold, overcast.
Light Conditions:	Overcast filtered mid-day light
Description: Size of bird:	Medium sized passerine, smaller than LALO's and HOLA's
(Description:) Basic Shape:	Sparrow-like
(Description:) Overall Pattern:	Brown/Gray Upperparts, Blackish underparts
(Description:) Bill Type:	Small, pointed conical. Grayish, somewhat lighter toward base.
(Description:) Field Marks and Identifying Characteristics:	Medium-size passerine. Small conical bill. Face dull buff with brownish ear patch (not black borderd). Whitish eyering. Dull brownish/buff malar stipes. Muted/dull chesnut collar not seen through binocs, but noted in one of the photos. Back dull buff with brown, buff-edged feathers and some blackish streaking. Tail not seen well, but undertail appears white. Throat light buff with dull brownish/buff malar stripes. Breast and belly blackish over gray undertone. (SEE PHOTOS)
Song or call & method of delivery:	Did not hear this one vocalize.
Behavior:	Sitting on the ground. Was not actively feeding or moving about when seen and photographed. Did not see or photograph it flying off.
Habitat:	Largely bare, snow-covered ground with patches of agricultural stubble, 3"-5" tall and a variety of short weeds.
Similar species and how were they eliminated:	Lapand Longspur has much more prominent facial pattern, particularly black outlined ear patch. LALO greater wing coverts form a distinctive rust colored patch. Thick-billed Longspur has larger (usually light colored) bill, and little to no streaking on breast and sides. Smith's Longspur has sharper lines, typically limited to a patch on the breast and to sides.
Previous experience with this & similar species:	I have not seen this specie before. I have seen and identified dozens of LALO's and a couple of TBLO's.
References consulted:	Cornell Univerity: Birds Of The World, Sibley Field Guide To Birds Of North America, and National Geographic Complete Birds Of North America (Second Edition).
Description from:	From photo(s) taken at the time of the sighting
Observer:	Terry Reid
Observer's address:	2675 Canyon Rd, Springville, UT 84663
Observer's e-mail address:	**
Other observers who independently identified this bird:
Date prepared:	1/29/23
Additional material:	Photos
Additional comments:	I thought I had seen this bird, but did not confirm it until I got through nearly 800 photos taken on 3 seperate visits to Howell.