Sighting Record for Utah

		No Photos
Common name:	Brown-crested Flycatcher
Scientific name:	Myiarchus tyrannulus
Date:	9/10/2018
Time:	14:00
Length of time observed:	5 minutes
Number:	1
Age:	unk
Sex:	unk
Location:	Bullet Canyon, Grand Gulch Primitive Area
County:	San Juan
Latilong:	37 25'44" N 110 00' 07" W
Elevation:	1750 m
Distance to bird:	4 feet
Optical equipment:	8x10 binoculars
Weather:	Clear and hot
Light Conditions:	Afternoon light, bird was easily visible in shade of a tree
Description: Size of bird:	large flycatcher, appeared larger than ATFL
(Description:) Basic Shape:	Flycatcher shape, upright posture, long tail, straight stout bill
(Description:) Overall Pattern:	pale yellow breast, reddish tail, light brown back, head and wings with pale wingbars, black bill and legs
(Description:) Bill Type:	Stout, straight and flattened bill; appeared obviously longer and stouter than ATFL
(Description:) Field Marks and Identifying Characteristics:	Myself and two other observers had a great look at this bird but unfortunately could not photo-document it because of lack of a camera. This bird was in a riparian thicket in bullet canyon. It was clear on first impression and subsequent analysis that it was not an ash-throated flycatcher. The bill was noticeably longer and stouter than an ATFL and the bird appeared overall larger than an ATFL. The belly was pale yellow, it had a gray throat, and the upperside of the tail was very reddish. Belly appeared paler yellow than a great-crested flycatcher's would. The main differentiation between this bird and an ATFL was the larger size and much larger bill--all three observers are quite familiar with ATFL and none of us thought the gestalte of the bird matched ATFL.
Song or call & method of delivery:	Did not vocalize
Behavior:	Bird appeared to be resting in the shade as it was a very hot day (~100 degrees F). It sat in a tree in front of us, seemingly unperturbed by us, for several minutes at about 4 feet distance. After several minutes it flew to a nearby willow about 10 feet away and after that it moved further and we lost it.
Habitat:	Riparian thicket in dry canyon
Similar species and how were they eliminated:	Elimination: Ash-throated flycatcher: The gestalte of the bird did not seem like ATFL; the bill was much longer and thicker, which was the first thing we noticed that made us think it was not ATFL. The overall size seemed larger than ATFL. The size and bill were the main things differentiating from ATFL Great-crested Flycatcher: We ruled out GCFL because the belly was quite pale yellow and not the bright yellow color of GCFL. The bill appeared completely black as opposed to more pale appeared at base of bill on GCFL. The gray throat was also pale, similar lookign to ATFL, rather than darker than ATFL as would be expected for GCFL. We felt these were the only species that were similar and could be confused with this bird. It was definitely a Myiarchus flycatcher based on the posture, coloration, and size (see description above).
Previous experience with this & similar species:	All three observers were very familiar with ATFL, but none had seen BCFL or GCFL before. We were all struck with how this bird did not appear like an ATFL. I worked for 4 months as an ornithologist for PRBO studying desert songbirds in the Sonoran Desert, including the ATFL,the other observers have spent extensive time in the California desert and seen many ATFL.
References consulted:	Sibley Guide to Birds second edition (all north america version)
Description from:	Notes taken at the time of the sighting
Observer:	Ryan Carle
Observer's address:	2621 N Rodeo Gulch Rd. Soquel CA 95073
Observer's e-mail address:	**
Other observers who independently identified this bird:	Jessie Beck and Eric Engles were also present but Ryan Carle was the primary identifier of the bird
Date prepared:	10/9/2018
Additional material:	No_additional_Materials
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