Verification of Unusual
Sight Record
For Utah
Rec. # 2025-50
| Common name: |
Vermilion Flycatcher |
| Scientific name: | Pyrocephalus rubinus |
| Date: | 9/20/2025 |
| Time: | 8:45am~ |
| Length of time observed: | 10 minutes |
| Number: | 1 |
| Age: | immature |
| Sex: | F?(not sure at what age males begin to get some red plumage) |
| Location: | Legacy Nature Preserve |
| County: | Davis |
| Latilong: | 40.871214, -111.955289 |
| Elevation: | 4,200ft~ |
| Distance to bird: | 80m |
| Optical equipment: | Nikon 10x42 Binoculars, Kowa 88mm spotting scopes |
| Weather: | overcast, 70F |
| Light Conditions: | Good, flat light |
| Description: Size of bird: | small passerine |
| (Description:) Basic Shape: | passerine |
| (Description:) Overall Pattern: | gray, white and yellow |
| (Description:) Bill Type: | insectivore |
|
(Description:)
Field Marks and Identifying Characteristics: |
As we were walking a dirt road back toward our cars, I spotted a small
songbird perched on a fence post. In the binos I couldn't make out
enough detail to tell what it was, but could tell it was a Flycatcher.
Fortunately we had brough a Kowa 88mm Spotting scope, so I got the bird
in the scope and much to my surprise it was a juvenile Vermilion
Flycatcher. We viewed the bird for 10 minutes or and I made sure
everyone in the group got a good look through the scope and discussed
the ID. Generally a fairly small and compact flycatcher, pale gray on the back and head with noticeable wingbars, whitish throat and upper breast, but belly was a lemon yellow. It also had a dark eyeline giving it a masked look. I discussed why it was not a Western Kingbird or Eastern Phoebe with the group. I also discussed why it was a juvenile and not an adult female, which would show some orangy or pink tones in the yellow belly (see photos) |
| Song or call & method of delivery: | None heard |
|
Behavior: |
Perched on a fence post |
| Habitat: | Open grassland with scattered shrubs near a large wetland |
| Similar
species and
how were they eliminated: |
Western kingbird-larger with a heavier bill, no wingbars, brighter
yellow on the belly Eastern Phoebe-darker sooty gray on the back and head, darkest in the face, with a gray collar across upper breast, can have faint yellow belly but not as bright as this bird. Say's Phoebe-darker brownish including upper breast, orange not yellow belly. Some juveniles can have a yellowy-orange belly, but are always darker brownish. Adults don't have wingbars, juveniles have buffy wingbars unlike this birds. |
| Previous
experience with this & similar species: |
Yes, many including many juveniles, which have confused me in the past which made me more familiar with their ID. |
| References consulted: | Sibley app |
| Description from: | From photo(s) taken at the time of the sighting |
| Observer: | Bryant Olsen |
| Observer's address: | 84102 |
| Observer's e-mail address: | ** |
| Other observers who independently identified this bird: | I was leading a field trip with 7 participants, but I made the ID. |
| Date prepared: | 9/26/25 |
| Additional material: | Photos |
| Additional comments: | eBird checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S274494168 |