Verification of Unusual
Sight Record
For Utah
Rec. # 2026-88
| Common name: |
Painted Bunting |
| Scientific name: | [Passerina ciris] |
| Date: | October 3 2026 |
| Time: | 8:34 |
| Length of time observed: | we held the bird for about 60 mins after capture |
| Number: | 1 |
| Age: | |
| Sex: | |
| Location: | Tracy Aviary's Nature Center at Pia Okwai |
| County: | Salt Lake |
| Latilong: | 40.697088, -111.921683 |
| Elevation: | 4240 |
| Distance to bird: | in hand |
| Optical equipment: | none |
| Weather: | I think it was cloudy but a mostly nice day |
| Light Conditions: | Good light conditions |
| Description: Size of bird: | |
| (Description:) Basic Shape: | |
| (Description:) Overall Pattern: | |
| (Description:) Bill Type: | |
|
(Description:)
Field Marks and Identifying Characteristics: |
When we caught the bird I immediately though it could be a Painted
Bunting. The bird's rump looked so very green. It was of similar size
and shape to lazuli or indigo bunting. The coloration was completely
different from either of those species (see photos) |
| Song or call & method of delivery: | |
| Behavior: | |
| Habitat: | urban riparian |
| Similar
species and
how were they eliminated: |
After initially linking the bird to the cardinalidae family. I reach out to Bryant Olsen and Max Malmquist to confirm the ID. I skimmed thou Sibley to see if any other us species match the description of the very green i saw on the rump. Bryant suggested trying to emminate the possibility of the bird being a scarlet tanager athough i'm not quite sure of the reason for this but we were able to quickly emminate the possibility of scarlet tanager though weight with our bird weight about half of what a proper scarlet tanager should weight |
| Previous
experience with this & similar species: |
I dont have any PABU experience this would be a species first for me. I have similar species in hand experience with INBU, LAZB, and even VABU |
| References consulted: | Sibley guide. National Geographic guide. Pyle Guide. |
| Description from: | From photo(s) taken at the time of the sighting |
| Observer: | Tully Frain |
| Observer's address: | [SLC] |
| Observer's e-mail address: | ** |
| Other observers who independently identified this bird: | |
| Date prepared: | 10/21/2026 |
| Additional material: | Photos |
| Additional comments: |