Sighting Record for Utah

Common name:	Hepatic Tanager
Scientific name:	Piranga flava
Date:	September 14, 2926
Time:	8:13 AM
Length of time observed:	About 30 seconds
Number:	1
Age:	Adult
Sex:	Male
Location:	Gardner residence (120 E 100 S, Ephraim)
County:	Sanpete
Latilong:	N 39�.4694' W 111�.0152'
Elevation:	5533 feet
Distance to bird:	About 20 feet
Optical equipment:	Nikon Z8, Nikkor 180-600mm lens
Weather:	Maybe 60% cloud cover, light breeze
Light Conditions:	Shade
Description: Size of bird:	Smaller than a robin. Bigger than a House Sparrow
(Description:) Basic Shape:	That of a Western Tanager, maybe a bit more stout
(Description:) Overall Pattern:	Red overall. Gray patch on the face. Wings darker
(Description:) Bill Type:	Heavy. Dark in color.
(Description:) Field Marks and Identifying Characteristics:	I saw this bird for a bit let than 30 seconds, about 28 seconds according to the clock on my camera. I concentrated on getting the best photos I could. My experience too often has been for any bird I am trying to get details on it will quickly disappear. I have 88 images. They are what I have used to get a detailed description. Here is my description is based on the 28 seconds of observation through my camera and about one second when the bird landed on a jelly feeder, looked directly at me, and flew away. I haven't seen it since. My first impression was that this was a tanager. Summer Tanager came to mind right away, in part because I had seen a Summer Tanager in my yard earlier in the summer, this bird seemed to be a tanager and was red. I was astonished when I studied the photos. The overall red color was obvious in the photos as well. Next the gray patch on the face stood out. Then the darker wings caught my attention. At this point, I was studying field guides and "Birds of the World". The last feature I felt identified this bird as a Hepatic Tanager was the heavy, dark bill. (Photos)
Song or call & method of delivery:	This bird did not vocalize.
Behavior:	The bird stayed in the same place. It looked around by moving its head and shifting its body slightly, but I was not able to observe any other behavior.
Habitat:	My yard has a large willow, a few large boxelders, 10 fruit trees in various stages of maturity, currant bushes, wild roses, honeysuckle, hollyhocks. There is an expanse of lawn, but it is mostly brown now because of the drought. The feature that likely drew this tanager into the yard was the cover from the trees, the feeders, and the birds they attract. I have sunflower seeds, thistle, mixed seeds, cracked corn, suet, grape jelly, and oriole feeders out. Dozens of birds come into the yard every day.
Similar species and how were they eliminated:	I have eliminated Summer Tanager because of the gray patch on the face, the darker wings, and the dark bill.
Previous experience with this & similar species:	Decades ago I lived in New Mexico. I have also lived in Zion National Park and visited there a few times. I remember seeing a Summer Tanager in Zion. I don't remember ever seeing a Hepatic Tanager before. The species of tanager I am most familiar with is the Western Tanager, which is common in Sanpete County and has been a visitor to my feeder and has bred in Ephraim.
References consulted:	Sibley Birds, 2nd edition (on my iPhone), Also on my phone iBird Plus. I also referred to Cornell Lab's "Birds of the World".
Description from:	From photo(s) taken at the time of the sighting
Observer:	Paul A. Gardner
Observer's address:	Ephraim, UT 84627
Observer's e-mail address:	**
Other observers who independently identified this bird:	None
Date prepared:	September 18, 2026
Additional material:	Photos
Additional comments:	I submitted this observation on eBird. The reviewer, Colby Neuman, asked me to submit it to the Utah Records Committee. I submitted 10 photos on eBird. I have not deleted any of the other 78 I have. [eBitd checklist]