Sighting Record for Utah

Common name:	Zone-tailed Hawk
Scientific name:	Buteo albonotatus
Date:	May 8, 11, & 18, 2024
Time:	2:00 pm
Length of time observed:	Over several hours on May 18, briefly the other two days
Number:	1
Age:	adult
Sex:
Location:	Over the pond behind Hell's Backbone Grill and the neighboring pastures
County:	Garfield
Latilong:	37�'12.1"N 111�'23.7"W
Elevation:	~6600'
Distance to bird:	First seen flying right past my kitchen window, no farther than 20 feet
Optical equipment:	Scope and binoculars
Weather:	Slightly windy
Light Conditions:	Sunny
Description: Size of bird:	Slightly larger than RTHA with longer and more slender wings
(Description:) Basic Shape:	Long-legged hawk when perched, shape and appearance of TUVU in flight
(Description:) Overall Pattern:	Black all over with white barring on tail, yellow legs and yellow bill with black tip
(Description:) Bill Type:	Hawk-billed, yellow with black tip
(Description:) Field Marks and Identifying Characteristics:	Large black hawk, with thick black terminal band and thick white subterminal band on tail, followed by thinner black and white bands. Long yellow legs, yellow bill with black tip. In TUVU-like V-shaped flight, wings were narrow, with lighter flight feathers with dark trailing edges. (see photos)
Song or call & method of delivery:	n/a
Behavior:	First seen flying out of neighbor's pasture carrying a bird, seemingly a starling, then landing on a nearby cottonwood where I watched it eat for 5-10 minutes. It then took off and circled over the pond and pastures in the manner of turkey vultures, narrow V-shaped wings with very little flapping. Eventually mingled with the vultures and ventured east. Every subsequent appearance has been soaring likewise among the vultures.
Habitat:	Over open pastures and the riparian area around the pond, landing in a large cottonwood to eat.
Similar species and how were they eliminated:	Wings more slender than common black hawk, with the characteristic TUVU-style flight. Slightly smaller than nearby vultures, also with narrower wings and more straight-edged tail with obvious white barring, yellow legs and beak.
Previous experience with this & similar species:	First encounter with this species. Have never seen COBH before. Innumerable encounters with TUVU.
References consulted:	Sibley & eBird
Description from:	From memory From photo(s) taken at the time of the sighting
Observer:	Ryan McDermott, Heather McDevitt, Evan Mabry
Observer's address:
Observer's e-mail address:	**
Other observers who independently identified this bird:	None that I know of, and I have been telling others in town to keep an eye out
Date prepared:	5/19/24
Additional material:	Photos
Additional comments:	I have been scanning every vulture I have seen ever since it first appeared, including an unsuccessful search at the large vulture roost in town, but I have only managed to spot it those three occasions.