Sighting Record for Utah

Common name:	Hudsonian Godwit
Scientific name:	Limosa Haemastica
Date:	09/12/26
Time:	Roughly 11:30am
Length of time observed:	multiple hours
Number:	2
Age:	juvenile
Sex:
Location:	River Lane
County:	Utah Co
Latilong:
Elevation:
Distance to bird:	20 yards at closest. several hundred yards as they worked away from us overtime.
Optical equipment:	Vortex, Swarovski, Leupold, Zeiss, Canon, Nikon, ETC ETC.
Weather:	sunny, low cloud coverage, calm.
Light Conditions:	excellent
Description: Size of bird:	Godwit sized
(Description:) Basic Shape:	Godwit Shaped
(Description:) Overall Pattern:	drab gray and buff, with some white and black.
(Description:) Bill Type:	Godwit Bill
(Description:) Field Marks and Identifying Characteristics:	While scoping the mudflats of River lane, I looked up to view my surroundings and noticed two large shorebirds incoming, both showing white wing flashes. I called out two Willets incoming right to left. We watched them come in, circle around and land 30-40 yards out. While circling I noticed the long bills. Once they landed I rapidly got them in scope. As soon as i took one look at them and realized they were godwits, i said Are these ******* Hudsonian Godwits?? These Willet-like godwits were a relatively straight forward ID in the godwit world, and the last species of the family I had not yet seen before. After some time looking at these birds we determined them to be HY birds, based on the relatively short bills, buffy washed underparts, and well patterned scaps and coverts, as well as the obvious lack of Alt plumage. According to Birds of the World, these birds undergo their first prebasic molt on their wintering grounds, which we discussed while viewing the birds. Overall, these birds were large, long billed shorebirds, rather dull gray brown plumage, with white rumps and black tails, and conspicuous white wing flashes. Although not as bright as a Willets wing pattern, it is still certainly the first thing apparent on these birds in flight. That in combo with the Black underwing coverts were quite striking. (see photos)
Song or call & method of delivery:	did not vocalize
Behavior:	preening, feeding, and flying at various times,
Habitat:	Expansive mudflats at River Lane.
Similar species and how were they eliminated:	MAGO - The white wing flashes shown well, easily rule out MAGO alone. The black underwing coverts, lack of rufous tones, lack of any barring also help in the separation from MAGO. Our birds showed rather contrasty white supercilliums against a darker cap, which also points to HUGO over MAGO, although it can be common to find a few bright supercilliums in a large MAGO group. BTGO - Again, the white wing flashes effectively rule out BTGO. BTGO also show rather striking dark feather shafts on their wing coverts especially in juvenile form, which are striking. In nonbreeding and juvenile form, BTGO s would have bright white underparts as opposed to the buffy wash of our birds. BLTG - can be ruled out by the black underwing coverts on our birds, which would be solid white on a BLTG, as well as BLTG show a much more extensive white wing flash from the topside - from the primaries to the tertials, essentially spanning the entire wing on BLTG s vs just the primaries and secondaries on our birds. In their nonbreeding/juvenile form, BLTG are very plain gray in the upper parts, and lack the somewhat scaly pattern of our birds. All other shorebirds - These birds had clear and obvious Godwit bills
Previous experience with this & similar species:	I personally have no previous experience with HUGO. Ive seem 5-6 BTGO in both alt and basic plumage, and 1 basic plumage BLTG in Norway this year.
References consulted:	Sibley, Merlin, Ebird, Macaulay Library.
Description from:	Notes taken at the time of the sighting From photo(s) taken at the time of the sighting
Observer:	McKay Olson
Observer's address:
Observer's e-mail address:	**
Other observers who independently identified this bird:	Esther Sumner, David Hollie, Jeff Cooper, Robby Nielson, Ian Peay, Ryan Gardner, Brent Ripley.
Date prepared:	9/21/26
Additional material:	Photos https://ebird.org/checklist/S392257111
Additional comments: