Sighting Record for Utah

Common name:	Tennessee Warbler
Scientific name:	Leiothlypis peregrina
Date:	September 5, 2023
Time:	11:00 a.m.
Length of time observed:	30 seconds to one minute
Number:	1
Age:	Unknown
Sex:	Unknown
Location:	Peterson DWR Property South
County:	Morgan
Latilong:	41.09723 111.74580
Elevation:	4,930
Distance to bird:	25-30 feet
Optical equipment:	8 x 42 binos
Weather:	Sunny, clear, temps in the 60s
Light Conditions:	Bird in shade dappled with sun; diffused yellow-green light. Observers in shade.
Description: Size of bird:	Smaller than most sparrows
(Description:) Basic Shape:	Standard passerine, but a little chunky due to somewhat short tail
(Description:) Overall Pattern:	Mid-tone upper; whitish-gray lower
(Description:) Bill Type:	Insect-eating; thin; sharp; short
(Description:) Field Marks and Identifying Characteristics:	Small with a somewhat short tail, making this bird seem a little chunky. Small, finely-pointed bill. Bill grayish and about the same color as the bird's medium-tone upper-parts. Thin, dark eye-line extending through the dark eye and aft of it a little ways. Thin pale eye-arcs. Pale-ish supercilium. Crown and upper-parts appeared to be gray-green, at least I can say a mid-tone rather than pale or dark. Upper-parts, what little could be seen, appeared unmarked. Gray tail. Yellow wash on throat and a little on upper breast, fading into whitish-gray of breast and belly; slightly darker gray on rear flank. Whitish under-tail coverts were long and the palest plumage of the under-parts. While the breast was a little dusky, the under-tail coverts were clean whitish with no pattern or duskiness. This bird was probably not an adult male due to the presence of minimal yellow wash on the throat and upper breast, and the tail spot pattern lacking white on the inner webs of the R5-R6 pairs. (see photos)
Song or call & method of delivery:	None
Behavior:	Flitting in the canopy of a mature willow. Our audience with the bird was cut short by the arrival of a Sharp-shinned Hawk and the warbler disappeared.
Habitat:	Mature riparian. Mixed deciduous growth along the Weber River.
Similar species and how were they eliminated:	Not an Orange-crowned Warbler due to: Face pattern including pale supercillium and dark eye-line, and whitish under-tail coverts. While the coverts weren't bright white and contrasty, I think it's very unlikely that an OCWA would have the combination of yellow wash on the throat and upper breast AND even creamy under-tail coverts. The review bird was also lacking the Orange-crowned's blurry breast-streaks. Not a Philadelphia Vireo due to: Finely pointed bill lacking a hook, and whitish under-tail coverts. Not a Warbling Vireo due to: Dark eye-line instead of "blank" face; finely pointed bill lacking a hook.
Previous experience with this & similar species:	One Utah Tennessee (UBRC record 2005-27); many Orange-crowned Warblers and Warbling Vireos annually; none with Philadelphia.
References consulted:	After taking notes: Sibley, 2000; Peterson's Warblers, 1997; Pyle, 1997.
Description from:	Notes made later From photo(s) taken at the time of the sighting
Observer:	Kristin Purdy
Observer's address:	Ogden
Observer's e-mail address:	**
Other observers who independently identified this bird:	Aaron and Weston Smith
Date prepared:	September 5, 2023
Additional material:	Photos
Additional comments:	Aaron Smith initially identified the bird as a Tennessee, and Weston Smith's photos support it. I was a chicken in the field and unwilling to call the ID after having seen only the face pattern, finely pointed bill, yellow wash on the throat/breast, and the pale under-parts, but not the white under-tail coverts very well. I waited to see the pics to embrace the ID.