Sighting Record for Utah

Common name:	Bell's Sparrow
Scientific name:	[Amphispiza bilineata]
Date:	23 Jan 2024
Time:	10:00 am
Length of time observed:	5 minutes
Number:	3
Age:
Sex:
Location:	Lytle ranch road
County:	Washington
Latilong:	37.1070121, -113.9810085
Elevation:
Distance to bird:	20 yards
Optical equipment:	600mm lens
Weather:	fair
Light Conditions:	light clouds
Description: Size of bird:	similar to smaller than Sagebrush sparrow
(Description:) Basic Shape:	Sparrow like
(Description:) Overall Pattern:	one bird had darker head. All 3 showed little to no streaking on back.
(Description:) Bill Type:	fine bill
(Description:) Field Marks and Identifying Characteristics:	A large flock of sparrows were observed. I played calls for White Crowned, Brewers, Sagebrush, and a few birds would come out of the flock to those calls. I played Bells and 3 birds came out. One especially appeared smaller and darker than the previous Sagebrush sparrows. One returned a song, but it was too soft to capture with merlin. I photographed all the birds. See photos
Song or call & method of delivery:	Playback
Behavior:
Habitat:
Similar species and how were they eliminated:	Sagebrush Sparrows that came out of the flock were heavily patterned on the back. At least one of the three Bells that came out had an especially dark Malar stripe contrasting with the gray head.
Previous experience with this & similar species:	100's of photographs of Sagebrush sparrows
References consulted:
Description from:	From photo(s) taken at the time of the sighting
Observer:	James Loveless
Observer's address:	10879 South Lake Island Drive, South Jordan, Utah 84009
Observer's e-mail address:	**
Other observers who independently identified this bird:
Date prepared:	2 Feb 2024
Additional material:	Photos
Additional comments: