Rare Bird Report 36-B-09 

IDAHO BIRD RECORDS COMMITTEE
RARE BIRD REPORT FORM


SPECIES:  


Rose Breasted Grosbeak


HOW MANY:


One


REPORTER:  


Phil Helsley
7777 So Biscayne Dr.
Salt Lake City,Utah 84121
208-838-2246
801-942-7871


REPORTER EMAIL:  


wphilhelsley@msn.com


OTHER OBSERVERS:


Found by myself and obseerved by Mary K. Helsley with same contact information


DATE REPORT PREPARED:  


June 02,2009


DATE SIGHTING OCCURRED:  


June 01,2009


LOCALITY OF OBSERVATION:


Six miles upstream from Clayton,Idaho on the Salmon river Corridor.  


HABITAT:


Feeder at riverbank in yard


CONDITIONS:


Observed for about 45 minutes at two different feeders.Temperature in the 60's and raining moderately hard.


DID YOU TAKE NOTES?:  


No, not at all


DID YOU CONSULT FIELD GUIDE OR OTHER REFERENCES?:  


Yes, during the observation


WHAT GUIDE(S) OR REFERENCE(S) DID YOU CONSULT?:


Audobon field guide


DESCRIPTION:  


Grosbeaks and Buntings. Beak shape and size.  Able to observe all aspects of the bird and took several photos.


BEHAVIOR:  


Bird was in survival mode fighting off a male cowbird which was at the same feeder.


HOW AND WHEN DID YOU POSITIVELY IDENTIFY THE BIRD, AND WHAT CLINCHED THE IDENTIFICATION FOR YOU?


There have been several sightings in Utah this Spring so I was aware of the possibility of a sighting.  The breast color is unmistakable.


HOW DID YOU ELIMINATE SIMILAR SPECIES, AND WHAT WERE THEY?


WE also have Evening Grosbeaks and Black headed Grosbeaks feeding at the feeders so it was easy to spot the difference.


EXPERIENCE WITH THIS SPECIES (AND SIMILAR SPECIES):  


 This is the first Rose Breasted Grosbeak that I have observed.  I will send photos when you tell me how to do send them.


GENERAL BIRDING EXPERIENCE:  


 Birding for about 20 years with the last ten years being much more serious.
I would consider myself almost an expert birder.


WERE PHOTO(S), VIDEO, AND/OR AUDIO OBTAINED BY YOU?:  


 Photo