Verification of Unusual
Sight Record
For Utah
Rec. # 2025-07
| Common name: |
Smith's Longspur |
| Scientific name: | Calcarius pictus |
| Date: | 2/28/25 |
| Time: | 9:00am |
| Length of time observed: | 1-2 minutes |
| Number: | 1 |
| Age: | Unknown |
| Sex: | Unknown |
| Location: | Howell, UT |
| County: | Box Elder |
| Latilong: | 41.7366719, -112.4554140 |
| Elevation: | |
| Distance to bird: | 30-50 ft |
| Optical equipment: | 10x50 vortex viper |
| Weather: | Sunny, clear |
| Light Conditions: | Excellent, sun facing birds |
| Description: Size of bird: | Sparrow-sized |
| (Description:) Basic Shape: | Round body, short tail |
| (Description:) Overall Pattern: | Brown and buff with slightly darker streaking |
| (Description:) Bill Type: | Thin, like that of a siskin or a chickadee |
|
(Description:)
Field Marks and Identifying Characteristics: |
Small brown, sparrow-like bird, overall light brown with darker brown streaks on crown and back. Belly and throat buff with faint streaks on chest and flanks. Lighter supercilium and malar stripe, dark brown auricular patch. Short tail with white outer retricies. Bill noticeably thin. Faint white eye ring. |
| Song or call & method of delivery: |
None |
| Behavior: | Foraging in grasses and snow, occasionally popping up for good looks but more skulky vs other longspurs. |
| Habitat: | Grassy farm field |
| Similar
species and
how were they eliminated: |
Bill and pattern ruled out Horned Lark. Auricular patch and bill ruled out most sparrows. Duller in color vs Lapland Longspur and bill was noticeably thinner and bicolored. Bill size and shape plus buff chest and flanks with striping ruled out Thick-billed Longspur. Bill thinner and facial pattern different than Chestnut-collared Longspur (buffy chest with streaks plus bolder malar stripe). |
| Previous
experience with this & similar species: |
First encounter with Smith's Longspur, fairly familiar with other three |
| References consulted: | Several bird guides and online resources |
| Description from: | Notes taken at the time o |
| Observer: | Ian Batterman |
| Observer's address: | 8538 S. Harvard Park Dr |
| Observer's e-mail address: | ** |
| Other observers who independently identified this bird: | |
| Date prepared: | 2/28/25 |
| Additional material: | No_additional_Materials |
| Additional comments: |