ELLA D. SORENSEN, 3868 Marsha Dr., West Valley City, Utah 84120
KEITH L. DIXON, Dept. of Biology, Utah State Univ., Logan, Utah 84322
STEVEN P. HEDGES, Bureau of Land Management, Cedar City, Utah 84720
CLAYTON M. WHITE, Dept. of Zoology, Brigham Young Univ., Provo, Utah 84602

    This is the sixth report of the Utah Bird Records Committee and contains 26 accepted records of 22 species and 2 unaccepted records of 2 species. Evaluated records are listed by common and scientific name following nomenclature of the American Ornithologists' Union 1983 Check-list and 35th (1985) and 36th (1987) supplements. Information listed for each accepted record includes, in order: number of birds recorded including age and sex if available, Committee file number (in parentheses), dates of known occurrence, locality, initials of all known observers with the finder listed first (in parentheses), initials of observers submitting written documentation (doc: ) or photograph (photo: ), and comments, if any. Information for unaccepted records is similar but lacks initials of observers.
    The Records Committee would like to thank those individuals who submitted records to the Committee.

ACCEPTED RECORDS

PACIFIC LOON (Gavia pacifica). One (14-1986); 13-14 Dec1986; Echo Res., Summit Co.; (CKe,BD); doc: CKe.
    The Arctic form of current field guides now is considered to consist of two species (see Auk 102:680, 1985). The population that breeds mostly in North America is now called the Pacific Loon, while the Eurasian population continues to be called Arctic Loon. Record 14-1986 represents the latest seasonal occurrence for Utah; most records are for November. The bird was reported as an adult in winter plumage, and the description of the back is suggestive of that plumage. The back was described as "a chocolate or dark grey-brown. Spotting, if present, not obvious or clear. Adult Pacific Loons have a rather uniformly-colored back, while immatures have pale edges to the back feathers, giving the back a scaled look. This difference would still be apparent in mid-December at the time of the sighting, but later the edges may be worn. In January, immature Pacific Loons begin to molt from juvenal to first-winter plumage in which the back is quite uniform as in adults. A dark stripe was observed up the side of the neck. Usually, this is more pronounced in juvenal plumage.

BROAD-WINGED HAWK (Buteo platypterus). One immature (18-1987); 27 Sep 1987; Promontory Peninsula, Box Elder Co.; (CK); doc: CK.

LESSER GOLDEN-PLOVER (Pluvialis dominica). One or two (7-1987); 6-18 May 1987; Syracuse, Davis Co.; (ES,CK); doc: CK.
    Two groups of populations illustrated in the National Geographic Field Guide may represent distinct species (see AOU Check-list 1983, p. 167). P. d. dominica, the form expected in Utah, winters in South America. P. d. fulva winters mainly on Pacific islands and southern Asia, with a few along the southern California coast. This bird was especially interesting in that it was a rich golden color -- much brighter than the typical dominica. In winter plumage, and questions arose about reliable characters to separate these two forms. One possibility suggested by Jon Dunn was that the primary extension in fulva may be less than in dominica (i.e., the tail is relatively shorter). This mark has not been completely field tested and is incorrectly shown in the National Geographic Field Guide. It is well illustrated in Shorebirds (Hayman et al. 1986). Detailed notes and photographs should be obtained on all sightings of Golden-Plovers to document the possible occurrence of fulva in Utah.

HUDSONIAN GODWIT (Limosa haemastica). One juvenile (4-1987); 3 Sep 1987; Blackhawk Duck Club, Salt Lake Co.; (ES); doc:: ES.
    This is the fourth accepted Utah record and the first fall record. The species migrates through the Great Plains in the spring, occurring rarely in the Western states. In the fall, migration is mainly off the East coast and this record is one of only a few fall records for the West.

WHITE-WINGED DOVE (Zenaida asiatica). One (10-1987); 5 Sep 1987; Black Rock, Millard Co.; (MW,RP,JM); doc: MW.
    This represents one of the few records away from Washington Co.

RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER (Sphyrapicus ruber daggetti). One (1-1988); 1-2 Jan 1988; Iverson Ranch, Beaver Dam Wash, Washington Co; (RS,ES,CK); doc: CK; photo: CK,ES.
    Verifying this record took about 4 months. Hybridization of this species with Red-naped Sapsucker must be considered. Photographs were sent to Ned Johnson, whose assessment was "that our best judgment is that this individual is a typical Red-breasted Sapsucker of the form daggetti." This is the second accepted record for Utah.

ACORN WOODPECKER (Melanerpes formicivorus). Two (10-1986); 8 Oct 1986; Coral Pink Sand Dunes, Kane Co.; (SH,BL); doc: SH.

BLUE JAY (Cyanocitta cristata). One (15-1987); 17 Oct 1987 (first seen); Peterson, Morgan Co.; (LG,AG,CK); doc: CK,LG.

VARIED THRUSH (Ixoreus naevius). One adult male (24-1987); Jan 1987 (17 days); Salt Lake City, Salt Lake Co.; (NN,WB,ES,RS,BB,CK,BH); doc: NN; photo: NN.

BENDIRE'S THRASHER (Toxostoma bendirei). Three (13-1987);18 June 1987; 2.6 ml. N of Harley Dome, Grand Co.; (NB); doc: NB.

RED-EYED VIREO (Vireo olivaceous). One immature (15-1986); 26 Aug 1986; near Promontory, Box Elder Co.; (JD,ES); doc: JO. One (19-1987); 25 Sep 1987; W of Milford, Beaver Co.; (CK); doc: CK.

CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER (Dendroica pensylvanica). One adult male (3-1987); 26 May 1987; Ogden, Weber Co.; (MK1JR); doc: MK; photo: MK.
    See Utah Birds 3(4):72-73 for details of this record.

BLACK-THROATED BLUE WARBLER (Dendroica caerulescens). One male (22-1987); 7 Oct 1987; Iverson Ranch, Beaver Dam Wash, Washington Co.; (ES,RS); doc: ES; photo: ES.
    This is the second documented record for Utah.

BLACKPOLL WARBLER (Dendroica striata). One (23-1987); 8 Oct 1987; Iverson Ranch, Beaver Dam Wash, Washington Co.; (ES,RS); doc: ES.

BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER (Mniotilta varia). One (9-1987); 5 Sep 1987; Black Rock, Millard Co.; (MW,JM); doc: MW.

AMERICAN REDSTART (Setophaga ruticilla). One female (11-1987); 5 Sep 1987; Black Rock, Millard Co.; (MW,RP,JM); doc: MW.

NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH (Seiurus noveboracensis). Three (12-1987); 5 Sep 1987; Black Rock, Antelope Spring, Cudahy Spring, all in Millard Co.; (MW,RP,JM); doc: MW.

LARK BUNTING (Calamospiza melanocorys). One (5-1987); 23 Aug 1987; Nephi, Juab Co.; (JW,JU); doc: JW.

SWAMP SPARROW (Melospiza georgiana). One (16-1987); 9 Sep 1987; 20 ml. SE of Park Valley, Box Elder Co.; (CK); doc: CK. One immature (28-1987); 21 Dec 1987; Kanab, Kane Co.: (SH); doc: SH. One adult (27-1987); 21 Dec 1987; Kanab Cr., Kane Co.; (SW); doc: SH.

WHITE-THROATED SPARROW (Zonotrichia albicollis). One (17-1981); 29-30 Sep 1987; North Salt Lake, Davis Co.; (ES,RS,CK); doc: ES; photo: CK.
    This sparrow was not an adult of the white-striped phase. Jon Dunn and Rick Blom were consulted to help determine whether it was an adult/immature tan-striped phase or an immature white-striped phase. Both stated that the field characteristics to determine this have not been adequately worked out.

MCCOWN'S LONGSPUR (Calcarius mccownii). One adult male (2-1988); 6 Jan 1988; Layton, Davis Co.; (CK); doc: CK.

LESSER GOLDFINCH (Carduelis psaltria). One female (17-1986); 19 Apr 1986; Wellsville, Cache Co.; (MT,SC); doc: MT. One male (25-1987); 17 Nov 1987; Benson, Cache Co.; (TH,RB); doc: TH.
    Record 17-1986 is the first documented record for Cache County. Reports of this goldfinch have increased in northern Utah in the last few years.

UNACCEPTED RECORDS

NORTHERN PARULA (Parula americana). One female (21-1987); 24 May 1987; Navajo Mtn, San Juan Co.
    Committee members were concerned about two aspects of this description. The upperparts were stated as "wholly grey with a distinct olive patch. This seems a little understated for Parula. The bird lacked any trace of wingbars, but plumage wear sufficient to obliterate the bold wingbars of this species seems improbable by 24 May.

PURPLE FINCH (Carpodacus purpureus). One male (1-1973); SE Utah; photograph.
    Jon Dunn was consulted and gave the following evaluation of the photograph. "I have absolutely no doubts that this Carpodacus finch is an adult male Cassin's. The clinching feature is the bill which is well shown in one of the two slides. It is long and the culmen is perfectly straight. The bill of a Purple Finch is distinctly shorter and the culmen is always curved. The very sharp back streaks are also indicative of Cassin's, but eastern (nominate) Purples can approach Cassin's in this regards. Finally the rather pale cast to the breast and only slight pink tint overall to the throat and breast is much more keeping with Cassin's as opposed to the more heavily saturated Purples. I would have expected the bird to have a few more evident streaks on the lower flanks and undertail coverts for a Cassin's but I do see a few, and misplaced twigs do cover up some of the key areas. In summary, most of the visible features from the photos support Cassin's, the bill itself is the clincher for that species."

OBSERVERS: Richard Bell, Bob Bond, Wayne Borders, Nelson Boschen, Beth Dilley, Jon Dunn, Albert Gabbard, Lenore Gabbard, Terry Hall, Bruce Heath, Steve Hedges, Craig Kesselhelm (CKe), Merlin Killpack, Craig Kneedy, Blaine Lunceford, James Matheson, Nancy Noble, Robert Parsons, Ella Sorensen, Richard Sorensen, Mike Tove, Jim Ure, Merrill Webb, Jim Woolf.
 

*Source: Utah Birds 5(1):14-19.