Sighting Record for Utah

Common name:	Painted Bunting
Scientific name:	Passerina ciris
Date:	24 August 2023
Time:	8:10AM
Length of time observed:	~20 minutes cumulatively across 3 observers/banders. This bird was thoroughly tangled in a mist net, so three members of our banding crew assisted in removing it from the net, and all had 3-10 minutes with the bird at close range. The first and second observers (Olivia DeMarchi and I) both independently recognized it on sight as a young or female Painted Bunting by its relative size, bill shape, and distinctly olive plumage, paired with the shape of a bunting. The 3rd observer (Malcolm Conner) agreed after assessing other possibilities.
Number:	1
Age:	This bird was probably a Hatch-Year (HY). We did not assess molt in detail because we wanted to alleviate stress from a difficult extraction, however we compared plumage traits that were visible in photos to the Pyle guide. The presence of dark brown primary coverts that had very little olive on them and which contrasted with the green-edging on the greater and median coverts match a HY bird. The plumage was more olive-green than olive-brown, which suggests against a juvenile bird, and the contrast between primary and secondary coverts suggests it is not an ASY bird. It was difficult to gauge feather wear as this bird was quite tangled.
Sex:	The sex is unknown as Pyle states that most HY/SY birds are not distinguishable until they enter the second prebasic molt, unless red or blue feathers are present. (Pyle, 680), but Our bird lacked any sign of red, blue, orange or yellow feathers.
Location:	University of Utah Rio Mesa Center Bird Banding Station
County:	Grand
Latilong:	38.799730, -109.204621
Elevation:	~4200 ft
Distance to bird:	in hand (captured in mist net)
Optical equipment:	none
Weather:	It was sunny and clear, about 75 degrees Fahrenheit. No rain and little to no wind.
Light Conditions:	Sunny. The sun was fairly low angle, but well above the canyon walls, so the initial sighting was in bright light. As this bird was first found in the bottom tramel of our mist net, we were able to view it up close in a variety of light conditions (sun, shade, and from all angles).
Description: Size of bird:	Medium passerine, about the size of a large orange
(Description:) Basic Shape:	Rather rounded squatty body, round head, and relatively short-medium tail
(Description:) Overall Pattern:	Head, back, and tail were predominantly dark olive-green, chest was washed a paler yellowish-olive, and primaries, secondaries, and rectrices were dark grayish-brown with olive edging. Legs were dark gray, and the bill was gray with hints of pink at the edges. I remember thinking that the inside of the mouth was orangish (it was a very bitey bird while we were removing it from the net), and Photo A shows the tiniest edging of orange (possibly the tail end of a gape?) at the base of the bill.
(Description:) Bill Type:	Conical, slightly down-curved bill. Less bulky and smaller at the base than on a Grosbeak, shorter and squatter than on a Tanager
(Description:) Field Marks and Identifying Characteristics:	Upon first sight of this bird, both Olivia and I independently wondered if it could possibly be an out of range Painted Bunting based on the distinctly olivey-green plumage and curved cone-like bill. Further field marks gleaned from photos after releasing the bird include a light cream colored eye-ring, gray legs, a gray bill with hints of pink edging, and dark, olive-edged flight feathers (wings and tail). (see photos)
Song or call & method of delivery:	N/A
Behavior:	This bird was only observed in the net, but was very bitey
Habitat:	Riparian habitat about 15 meters from the shore of the Dolores River, inside a canyon. Predominant vegetation is Tamarisk, Cheatgrass, Russian Knapweed, and Rubber Rabbitbrush, with occasional Cottonwood trees.
Similar species and how were they eliminated:	The most similar species based on shape/size and bill morphology are Indigo Buntings and Lazuli Buntings, and the much rarer Varied Bunting. In these species bright blue plumage eliminates males, and the females/immatures are brown instead of olive-green. Painted Bunting hybrids with Lazuli and Indigo Buntings were briefly considered, but the brightly colored plumage of males of these hybrids did not match our bird, and descriptions of female hybrids were not found. Other birds of this Olive-green color scheme include Empidonax flycatchers, dull Orange-crowned Warblers or female Common Yellowthroats, and possibly female Piranga Tanagers. The warblers and flycatchers are all significantly smaller and have a different body/bill shape than our bird did, while the tanagers are larger, yellower, and have longer narrower bills. Grosbeaks have similar bill shapes, but plumage is not remotely similar, and our bird had a less bulky beak.
Previous experience with this & similar species:	I have observed male and female Painted Buntings regularly (10-20ft in distance, often with 8x42 or 10x42 binoculars) in coastal North Carolina, eastern Texas, and central Kansas. I am familiar with the general shape/size characteristics of other buntings (Indigo and Lazuli), and have identified and banded several HY Lazuli Buntings this fall. Olivia DeMarchi, the other independent identifier routinely saw and heard young and adult Painted Buntings when she conducted avian point counts in Texas. She and Malcom Conner also identified Lazuli Buntings in hand this season.
References consulted:	We consulted the following print and online resources: Sibley Guide to Birds (David Allen Sibley), Identification Guide to North American Birds Part 1 Second Edition (Peter Pyle), National Geographic Field Guide to Birds of North America (John Dunn and Jonathan Alderfer), Merlin, and eBird/Macaulay library Explore Media function. I also reached out to another experienced bander, Alicia Bachman. She and Evan Buckland, who studies Painted Bunting demographics with the Cape Fear Bird Observatory in North Carolina, both offered the same Identification without prompting.
Description from:	Notes taken at the time of the sighting From photo(s) taken at the time of the sighting
Observer:	Caroline Wolfe-Merritt
Observer's address:	1018 Hayfield Lane, Greensboro, NC 27410
Observer's e-mail address:	**
Other observers who independently identified this bird:	Olivia DeMarchi and Malcolm Conner
Date prepared:	30 August 2023
Additional material:	Photos
Additional comments:	Due to extended time in the net and signs of stress (winky, hot), this bird was released prior to banding/processing. Estimates of age/sex, and descriptions of field marks are from photographs taken before release, and notes taken at time of capture. Photo Credits to Malcolm Conner.