Verification of Unusual
Sight Record
For Utah
Rec. # 2023-29
| Common name: |
Ovenbird |
| Scientific name: | Seiurus aurocapilla |
| Date: | 06/14/2023 |
| Time: | 1:30pm |
| Length of time observed: | 1 hour off and on |
| Number: | 1 |
| Age: | adult |
| Sex: | ? |
| Location: | Butterfield Canyon |
| County: | Salt Lake |
| Latilong: | 40.486511, -112.150433 |
| Elevation: | 6,800 ft~ |
| Distance to bird: | 5m at closest |
| Optical equipment: | Nikon 10x42 Binoculars |
| Weather: | Partly cloudy, calm, 70F |
| Light Conditions: | Good |
| Description: Size of bird: | small passerine |
| (Description:) Basic Shape: | horizonal passerine |
| (Description:) Overall Pattern: | brownish overall |
| (Description:) Bill Type: | short and thin (insectivore) |
|
(Description:)
Field Marks and Identifying Characteristics: |
First found and reported on 6/12 by Shawn Pladas with
UDWR, reported to eBird and refound by many. Initial I heard the bird
singing their distinctive
teacher-Teacher-TEACHER-TEACHER!-TEACHER!!-TEACHER!!! song that starts
quiet by increases in volume with each phrase. Tracked down the source
of the song and eventual got brief but good looks at it. Largish warbler
with a horizonal posture, overall smooth olive brown on the upper parts,
white below with black streaking, bold eyering, striped black and rust
crown (see photos) |
| Song or call & method of delivery: | Singing fairly consistently every 30 seconds, distinctive: teacher-Teacher-TEACHER-TEACHER!-TEACHER!!-TEACHER!!! song that increases in volume with each phrase (recorded) |
| Behavior: | This bird was Skulky! somehow it would perch 5 to 8 feet off the ground in Gambel Oak completely hidden in foliage, but would fly from perch to perch giving good but frustratingly brief views. I spent over an hour trying to get decent photos until I gave up |
| Habitat: | Canyon bottom near a creek and some conifers, but the bird was on a slope 100m above the creek in mixed Maple-Oak, with a small grassy clearing nearby. |
| Similar
species and
how were they eliminated: |
Waterthrushes-similar size and shape, but
always near water and tettering, lack an eyering and crown stripes, have
bold dark eyeline, white supercilium Hermit & Swainson's Thrushes-bigger and chunkier, lack crown stripes |
| Previous
experience with this & similar species: |
My 4th, all in Utah. Many with Waterthrushes, Hermit Thrush and Swainson's Thrush |
| References consulted: | Sibley app |
| Description from: |
From memory 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: | Found by Shawn Pladas on 6/13, seen by many over the next 3 days |
| Date prepared: | 6/26/23 |
| Additional material: | Photos |
| Additional comments: | eBird checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S141571897 |