Verification of Unusual
Sight Record
For Utah
Rec. # 2024-82
| Common name: |
Magnolia Warbler |
| Scientific name: | Setophaga magnolia |
| Date: | 8/31/24 |
| Time: | 2pm |
| Length of time observed: | 15 seconds |
| Number: | 1 |
| Age: | Juvenile |
| Sex: | N/A |
| Location: | Lamb's Canyon trailhead |
| County: | Salt Lake |
| Latilong: | (40.7210739, -111.6582024) |
| Elevation: | 6667' |
| Distance to bird: | 20 yards |
| Optical equipment: | Swarovski 8x42 NL |
| Weather: | Sunny and warm |
| Light Conditions: | Clear |
| Description: Size of bird: | Small |
| (Description:) Basic Shape: | Usual warbler shape with relatively long tail and small tail |
| (Description:) Overall Pattern: | Darker upperparts with yellow underparts |
| (Description:) Bill Type: | Small pointed |
|
(Description:)
Field Marks and Identifying Characteristics: |
Warbler with bright yellow underparts and two distinctive white patches on the top of the tail with a black band across the tip of the tail and contrasting yellowish rump. Also gray head, thin white eyering with yellow throat, faint gray streaking on the flanks and 2 white wing bars. |
| Song or call & method of delivery: | None |
| Behavior: | Hopping around on branches with foraging with intermittent tail raising and fanning |
| Habitat: | Vegetated riparian area along a stream with mostly dogwoods in a mixed coniferous forest with mostly douglas-firs on one side of the stream and drier habitat with gambel's oak and mountain mahogany on the other |
| Similar
species and
how were they eliminated: |
While the unique tail pattern eliminates other warbler species, the overall plumage can resemble young Canada and Prairie Warblers. However the white wingbars eliminate those two species, with the yellow rump further eliminating Canada Warbler and white undertail coverts ruling out Prairie. |
| Previous
experience with this & similar species: |
Growing up back east, I have seen 100s/1000s of this species both during migration and on the breeding grounds and have seen one other one at Garr Ranch in Oct 2014 |
| References consulted: | Sibley 2nd edition |
| Description from: | Notes taken at the time of the sighting |
| Observer: | Kenny Frisch |
| Observer's address: | 4609 S Wallace Ln Holladay, UT 84117 |
| Observer's e-mail address: | ** |
| Other observers who independently identified this bird: | None |
| Date prepared: | 11/15/24 |
| Additional material: | No_additional_Materials |
| Additional comments: | I tried to previously submit this record right after I saw it in early September but I guess there was an issue with the submission to the website and that record never went through so I am submitting it again now. |