Verification of Unusual Sight Record
For Utah

Rec. # O_2012-04


 
Common name:

Hooded Oriole

Scientific name: Icterus cusullatus
Date: 7 July 2012
Time: 11:00 a.m.
Length of time observed: 15 minutes
Number: 1
Age: 1 year?
Sex: male
Location: Woodland Hills
County: Utah
Latilong: 40�01'05.94"N 111�39'17.93"W
Elevation: 5483 feet
Distance to bird: 20 feet
Optical equipment: eye, binoculars, camera
Weather: clear
Light Conditions: bright
Description:        Size of bird: slightly smaller than the towhees and blackheaded grosbeaks common here
(Description:)       Basic Shape:  
(Description:)  Overall Pattern: yellow with black bib and black wings with a white slash
(Description:)            Bill Type:  thin and slightly curved
(Description:)                              
Field Marks and
Identifying Characteristics:
basically a bright yellow.
black wings with a white bar.
tips of the wings grey.
the black of the wings stretches across the shoulders in a band.
black bib from eyes over throat onto chest.
black tail with some white markings
fairly long, thin, curved beak.
(see photos)
Song or call & method of delivery: didn't hear this
Behavior: fleeing hummingbirds when we first saw it, presumably because it had used their feeder.
Habitat: scrub oak and maple
Similar species and how
were they eliminated:
Elimination: we thought first we might be seeing a Western Tanager, but there was no red.

We also thought it might be an American Goldfinch, but there was no black on the forehead and the black bib was different and the bird was slightly larger than the goldfinch and the bill was distinctly different.

We have seen Bullock's Orioles here and thought it might be one of them, but the bib was much more distinct and there was no black on the head and the beak was longer and thinner.
Previous experience with
this & similar species:
 
References consulted: Sibley's Bird Guide, which doesn't list central Utah as the bird's range.
Internet photos, some of which were very much like our photos.
Description from: From memory
Observer: Scott Abbott and Lyn Bennett
Observer's address: 125 Vista Circle, Woodland Hills, UT
Observer's e-mail address: **
Other observers who independently identified this bird: there were two of us: Scott Abbott and Lyn Bennett
 
Date prepared: 9 June 2012
Additional material: Photos
Additional comments: