Verification of Unusual
Sight Record
For Utah
Rec. # 2026-82
| Common name: |
Chestnt-sdied Warbler |
| Scientific name: | Setophaga pensylvanica |
| Date: | 10/18/2026 |
| Time: | ~1345 |
| Length of time observed: | 5-7 mins |
| Number: | 1 |
| Age: | HY/First Winter |
| Sex: | male or female |
| Location: | Springs Park, very near the pond not the marsh area. |
| County: | Washington |
| Latilong: | 37.087587, -113.537001 |
| Elevation: | ~2,840 feet |
| Distance to bird: | 10-50 ft? |
| Optical equipment: | Nikon Monarch 5 Binoculars 10x42 |
| Weather: | Partly Cloudy with sun on occasion peeking out briefly. Very light wind. 68-70 degrees |
| Light Conditions: | Good lighting with clouds muting sun |
| Description: Size of bird: | OCWA, almost YRWA sized |
| (Description:) Basic Shape: | Warbler shaped, small |
| (Description:) Overall Pattern: | Bright yellow-green on top of head, back and wings. Light grey throat and belly, and darker wings with wingbars |
| (Description:) Bill Type: | Fine small pointed, warbler sized bill |
|
(Description:)
Field Marks and Identifying Characteristics: |
While checking out a group of YRWA and an OCWA in tree on the north edge of Springs Pond I saw the top side of a warbler with a very yellow-green top about 10 ft away in the leaves. It flew about 25 feet away and after some flitting around, the bird came into full view and I could see the yellow-green crown, neck and body, the full white eyering, yellow wingbars and gray/light neck and underparts. It kept fliting around the tree hunting for food then flew across the bike path around 50 ft away. We (my mom was with me) could still see it in that tree, then lost track of it. |
| Song or call & method of delivery: | None noted |
| Behavior: | Eating and flitting around in a bushy tree of unknown species near the pond. It was near an OCWA and some YRWAs |
| Habitat: | Young trees and a larger tree bushy near Springs Pond (riparian habitat typical of lowland areas in Washington County) |
| Similar
species and
how were they eliminated: |
Tennesee Warbler due to similar back
coloring, but lacks color on the head, and no eyering. Female TN is too
yellow, and again, no eyering. Bay-Breasted Warbler due to coloring, but Bay-Breasted lacks full white eyering. This is a pretty distinctive warbler when in full view. |
| Previous
experience with this & similar species: |
This is the second CSWA I have seen in Washington county; last one was in December and this looked the same, but this time, the memory worked immediately!. I have seen one other fall CSWA and 1 spring CSWA in SL and Utah counties. My 4th sighting in Utah. |
| References consulted: | Sibley, eBird, Merlin |
| Description from: | Notes made later |
| Observer: | Felicia Alvarez |
| Observer's address: | Salt Lake City, 84105 |
| Observer's e-mail address: | ** |
| Other observers who independently identified this bird: | |
| Date prepared: | 10/18/2026 |
| Additional material: | |
| Additional comments: | eBird checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S403540123 |