Verification of Unusual
Sight Record
For Utah
Rec. # O_2009-01
| Common name: |
Summer Tanager |
| Scientific name: | Piranga rubra |
| Date: | 05/22/09 |
| Time: | 1000 hr. |
| Length of time observed: | 3 minutes |
| Number: | 1 |
| Age: | AD |
| Sex: | M |
| Location: | Fish Springs National Wildlife Refuge, housing area |
| County: | Juab |
| Latilong: | 9 |
| Elevation: | 4300 |
| Distance to bird: | 7-10 yards |
| Optical equipment: | Eagle Optics Ranger PC 10X50 |
| Weather: | partly cloudy |
| Light Conditions: | some shade as I was under a large tree |
| Description: Size of bird: | 8" |
| (Description:) Basic Shape: | robust |
| (Description:) Overall Pattern: | red |
| (Description:) Bill Type: | strong, bulky |
|
(Description:)
Field Marks and Identifying Characteristics: |
Bird was very uniformly red over most of body, somewhat darker on the back,
notably bulkier than our common western tangagers, bill a dull yellowish color. (see photo) |
| Song or call & method of delivery: | |
| Behavior: | Foraging on insects in russian olive tree. Was not particularly wary and allowed me to approach quite close with some cover inbetween us. |
| Habitat: | |
| Similar
species and
how were they eliminated: |
Elimination: Much larger than vemillion flycatcher, no black on wings like a scarlet tanager, much more uniformly red the a hepatic tanager as well as having a yellowish bill instead of a dark bill like a hepatic. |
| Previous
experience with this & similar species: |
I have caught mist netting and banded a firt year male here at FS. I have observed vermillion flycatchers both here at FS and many time while working at the Bill William NWR. Have observed scarlet tanagers many time in eastern US. No previous experience with hepati |
| References consulted: | Sibley, Pyle, Stokes |
| Description from: | From memory |
| Observer: | Jay Banta |
| Observer's address: | Fish Springs NWR. P.O. Box 568. Dugway, UT 84022 |
| Observer's e-mail address: | jay_banta@fws.gov |
| Other observers who independently identified this bird: |
Bob and M.J. Dow. I had birders who came out after I put this on the hotline
that saw it as well but I do not have their names. |
| Date prepared: | 05-27-09 |
| Additional material: | Photo |
| Additional comments: | Photo submmitted to Milt on 05-27-09 |