Sighting Record for Utah

Common name:	Brown Thrasher
Scientific name:	Toxostoma rufum
Date:	11/20/2005
Time:	1600
Length of time observed:	1 hour
Number:	1
Age:	mature
Sex:	unknown
Location:	Bluff, Utah
County:	San Juan
Latilong:
Elevation:
Distance to bird:	10 feet
Optical equipment:	none
Weather:	55 degrees F, bright and clear
Light Conditions:	bright
Description: Size of bird:	larger than a rufus towhee
(Description:) Basic Shape:	long tail
(Description:) Overall Pattern:	bright rufus above, 2 wing bars, yellow eye, streaked breast
(Description:) Bill Type:	long and slender
(Description:) Field Marks and Identifying Characteristics:	(see photo)
Song or call & method of delivery:	an electrical short circuit sound "thvzt". Loud and clear, delivered just one time, every 5 minutes or so.
Behavior:	Landing haphazardly into a wild rose thicket, wings a scatter, then pulling together and climbing to the ground.
Habitat:	rose thicket, juniper shrub around a hot tub.
Similar species and how were they eliminated:	I thought it was a towhee, but breast was too streaked and the back was such a bright rufus.
Previous experience with this & similar species:	Have never seen one before, but very familiar with rufus towhee and brown towhee
References consulted:	Golden Guide to Field Id Birds of North America, Peterson Field Guide to Western Birds, Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology Website
Description from:	Notes taken at time of sighting
Observer:	Jim Hook
Observer's address:	220 E. Main St. P.O. Box 309, Bluff, UT 84512
Observer's e-mail address:	office@recapturelodge.com
Other observers who independently identified this bird:	Luanne Hook
Date prepared:	11/20/2005
Additional material:	Will Photograph tomorrow ( photo)
Additional comments:	This bird seems way out of range, but the viewing was so close and long that there is no mistake.