Verification of Unusual
Sight Record
For Utah
Rec. # 2024-80
| Common name: |
Red Phalarope |
| Scientific name: | Phalaropus fulicarius |
| Date: | November 10, 2024 |
| Time: | 4 p.m. |
| Length of time observed: | 25 minutes |
| Number: | 1 |
| Age: | Adult |
| Sex: | Unknown |
| Location: | Antelope Island shoreline of Great Salt Lake |
| County: | Davis |
| Latilong: | 41.053254 -112.223980 |
| Elevation: | 4,198 |
| Distance to bird: | 75 yards |
| Optical equipment: | 8 x 42 binoculars, 85 mm scope w/20-60x zoom eyepiece |
| Weather: | Mild (50's) and sunny |
| Light Conditions: | Mostly sunny from the west (behind me), but sun at a low angle |
| Description: Size of bird: | About 1/3 of the size of Green-winged Teal present |
| (Description:) Basic Shape: | Somewhat crescent-shaped with one side (head and neck) taller |
| (Description:) Overall Pattern: | White, gray and black |
| (Description:) Bill Type: | Thin and needle-like |
|
(Description:)
Field Marks and Identifying Characteristics: |
Thin black bill just longer than the head from
front-to-back and wider at the base. Pale base of the lower mandible not
visible at the distance. Mostly white face, fore-neck, and underparts
visible above the water line. Black lateral stripes on mid-crown merging
at the top of the crown and forming one thin line down the nape. Black
oblong teardrop over the black eye forming the phalarope mark. Mostly
unmarked gray upper-parts. Crown shape with a slight point at the rear and a somewhat more gentle slope down to the bill (in comparison with Red-necked Phalaropes present). Upright posture with sturdy-looking neck. "High-tailed" look above the water line. (see photos) |
| Song or call & method of delivery: | None heard. |
| Behavior: | Swimming erratically in shallow water with ducks, Bonaparte's Gulls and Red-necked Phalaropes. Constantly picking items from the water's surface. |
| Habitat: | Large, shallow saline lake. |
| Similar
species and
how were they eliminated: |
From the Red-necked Phalarope, which happened to be present: The review
bird was bigger than an adult female Red-necked that was still in
alternate plumage with a deep chestnut neck. The review bird had a
thicker bill both at the base and down the length, a gentler sloping
forehead rather than the Red-necked's more
curved crown and vertical forehead, and sat higher in the water in all
postures especially around the tail/wing tip area. The review bird also
showed fairly uniformly gray upper-parts whereas three basic-plumage
Red-necks present showed blackish and somewhat variegated upper-parts.
The Red-necked is the only likely confusing species due to the review bird's black phalarope mark over the eye. |
| Previous
experience with this & similar species: |
Three previous Red Phalaropes in Utah; thousands of Red-necked annually. |
| References consulted: | Sibley, The Shorebird Guide, Birds of Europe, eBird |
| Description from: |
From memory 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: | None, although Raquel Johnson logged one in an eBird checklist with photos along the causeway 4 days ago on Nov 6, 2024. |
| Date prepared: | November 10, 2024 |
| Additional material: | |
| Additional comments: |