Sighting Record for Utah

Common name:	Magnolia Warbler
Scientific name:	Setophaga magnolia
Date:	29 Oct 2023
Time:	11:30 am
Length of time observed:	On-off for about 15-20 mins
Number:	1
Age:	immature
Sex:	female
Location:	Location Brooks Nature Park, St George, UT
County:	Washington
Latilong:	37.11617, -113.58227
Elevation:	approx 2950'
Distance to bird:	As close as 10 feet
Optical equipment:	Leica 10x40 binoculars
Weather:	Sunny & warm
Light Conditions:	Excellent. We saw it from many angles, relative to the sun, both in the shade and bright sun.
Description: Size of bird:	Smallish wood-warbler (about five inches).
(Description:) Basic Shape:	Standard wood-warbler shape
(Description:) Overall Pattern:	Grayish and green above, yellow below with black streaking.
(Description:) Bill Type:	Thin wood -warbler bill
(Description:) Field Marks and Identifying Characteristics:	-- bright yellow below with thin black streaks along the flanks -- yellow throat -- white in the vent area -- mantle a lovely shade of olive -- head pale gray with distinct & complete white eye rings -- tail blackish with a bold white band comprised of large white ovals across all of the rectrices except maybe the middle two (have photo of spread tail) -- wings dark with two thin white wing bars -- very distinctive call, different than all the local warblers (recorded it) -- the photos show the grayish band across the upper breast shown in field guides on fall birds -- Glimpsed it down below in the cottonwoods near the parking lot, then saw it for about 15 minutes on the upper end of the park near the pond. (see photos)
Song or call & method of delivery:	A distinctive call note repeated almost constantly. (See recordings.) Audio 1, Audio 2, Audio 3
Behavior:	Actively gleaning in the lower to mid canopy, even descending to the the ground at one point. Calling incessantly.
Habitat:	Cottonwoods around a small pond in what is best likened to desert riparian habitat. Much undergrowth in the area.
Similar species and how were they eliminated:	This is a fairly distinctive warbler, but here goes for completeness: > All of the local warblers by combination of yellow underparts, gray head, and wing bars. > Northern parula by longer tail, complete eye rings rather than crescents, breast streaking, and the tail band. > American redstart female by tail pattern and bright yellow underparts. > Nashville warbler by wing bars and tail pattern. > Bay-breasted, Pine, and fall Blackpoll warblers by tail pattern, unstreaked green mantle, and grayer head. > Prairie warbler immature female by grayer head, tail pattern (white restricted to smaller band), white wing bars. > Canada warbler by wing bars, white rather than yellow in face, and tail pattern. > Ruby-crowned kinglet by bright yellow underparts, tail pattern, green back, and call. > All vireos by tail pattern and thinner bill.
Previous experience with this & similar species:	Not great compared to other warblers on my Utah list, but I was surprised to see that, according to eBird, I had seen this species 74 times prior to this sighting (mostly in Central America and Eastern North America).
References consulted:	In the field just relied on my own knowledge, concentrating on taking notes, sound recordings, and photos. Later, in the car, consulted the National Geographic field guide to confirm the ID. Chips also matched commercial recordings. I hate to even mention it, but the Merlin app also thought this was a Magnolia warbler [though it has also once called a ground squirrel a Royal or Elegant tern, so I don't put huge amount of stock in that...].
Description from:	Notes taken at the time of the sighting From photo(s) taken at the time of the sighting
Observer:	David S. Wheeler
Observer's address:	2196 S 1000 E, Salt Lake City, UT 84106
Observer's e-mail address:	**
Other observers who independently identified this bird:	Lauri Taylor and, later in the day, the Sommerfelds.
Date prepared:	18 Nov 2023
Additional material:	Photos Digital sound recordings of the chip calls. (Audio 1, Audio 2, Audio 3)
Additional comments: