Sighting Record for Utah

Common name:	Ovenbird
Scientific name:	Seiurus aurocapilla
Date:	August 15th, 2023
Time:	1:35pm
Length of time observed:	5 minutes
Number:	1
Age:	Unknown
Sex:	Unknown, presumably male
Location:	King Henry Apartment Complex [Provo]
County:	Utah
Latilong:	40.240861, -111.639277
Elevation:	~4550 ft
Distance to bird:	About 25 - 30 yds
Optical equipment:	12 x 50 binoculars, but didn't get visual
Weather:	Partly cloudy
Light Conditions:	Excellent
Description: Size of bird:	Audio only observation
(Description:) Basic Shape:	Audio only observation
(Description:) Overall Pattern:	Audio only observation
(Description:) Bill Type:	Audio only observation
(Description:) Field Marks and Identifying Characteristics:	Audio only observation. I heard it and got recordings with my window open, but when I went out to try and confirm visually, I couldn't locate it or maybe it flew off.
Song or call & method of delivery:	Sang two different songs. One song had sharp, suppressed notes in medium paced succession in series of 9. At the end of the second iteration of that song, it switched to a slightly different song, which featured a more characteristically ovenbird-esque paired notes song, in series of 6. Perhaps a slight crescendo at the beginning of each song, but not drastic. Each phrase of both songs was 2 seconds long with about 10 seconds in between. Last portion of song 2 recorded was only two notes long instead of 6. Lesser goldfinches were also calling during this time. (Audio Files)
Behavior:
Habitat:
Similar species and how were they eliminated:	Since this was audio only, I had to listen to many warbler songs and songs of other bird's to compare to my recording. I first considered Virginia's, but was not convinced since the songs I recorded lacked a second phrase, and notes were less melodic, lower pitched, and more uniformly paced than Virginia's. I then considered Wilson's since the pitch seems to match somewhat, but these notes seemed huskier and didn't vary in tempo or pitch like Wilson's. I considered Nashville next, but again the recording lacked multiple phrasings that nashvilles have. Even if it was a Nashville singing only one of it's phrases, the slower paired-note song sounded too different from Nashville songs. All other warblers have characteristically scratchy tones like many in the setophaga genus or features multiple phrases like the yellow warbler, Grace's, MacGillivrays, etc. I thought about whether it was a non warbler, like a junco or finch. Juncos have a more metallic trill, and this was much slower paced than a junco. Goldfinches have a lot of variety, but the songs seemed very uniform and consistent as opposed to the jumbled finch songs. Timing seemed to be more warbler like as well.
Previous experience with this & similar species:	None with ovenbird. 3+ years experience with other warblers, like Wilson's, Nashville, Virginia's, and non warblers with varying songs like American goldfinch and lesser goldfinch.
References consulted:	Jeff Cooper, and he asked an East Coast friend.
Description from:	Notes made later
Observer:	Daxton Bryce
Observer's address:	362 N 800 E
Observer's e-mail address:	**
Other observers who independently identified this bird:	None
Date prepared:	September 19th, 2024
Additional material:
Additional comments:	Audio files, will email.