LOUISIANA BIRD RECORDS COMMITTEE
REPORT
FORM
This form is intended as a
convenience in reporting observations of species on the Louisiana Bird Records
Committee (LBRC) Review List. The LBRC recommends the use of this form or a
similar format when submitting records for review (to assure that all pertinent
information is accounted for). Attach additional pages as necessary.
Please print or type. Attach xerox of field notes, drawings, photographs, or
tape recordings, if available. Include all photos for more obscurely marked
species. When completed, mail to Secretary, Louisiana Bird Records Committee,
c/o Museum of Natural Science, 119 Foster Hall, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803-3216.
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1. English and Scientific names: Antillean Nighthawk (Chordeiles gundlachii |
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2. Number of individuals, sexes,
ages, general plumage (e.g., 2 in alternate plumage): One male. |
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3. Locality: LOUISIANA: (parish)
____Cameron_____________________________________ |
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Specific Locality: ___Chevron Gas Plant, near Lighthouse Rd, Sabine River,
Cameron Parish_______________ |
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4. Date(s) when observed: 30 April 2011, 5 May 2011 |
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5. Time(s) of day when observed: Approximately 8:15pm on 30 April,
and 7:40-8:20pm on 5 May. |
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6. Reporting observer and address:
Daniel Lane, 119 Foster Hall, Baton Rouge, LA,
70803 |
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7. Other observers accompanying
reporter who also identified the bird(s): Richard
Gibbons, Andres Cuervo, Caroline Duffie (on 30 April) |
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8. Other observers who independently
identified the bird(s): |
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9. Light conditions (position of
bird in relation to shade and to direction and amount of light): Dusk, mostly at or just after sunset. Bird seen to S
or W of observers. |
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10. Optical equipment (type,
power, condition): Zeiss 10x40 binoculars |
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11. Distance to bird(s): Between 100-400 yards. |
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12. Duration of observation: In total, about 40 min. |
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13. Habitat: shell bank and industrial construction amid saltmarsh. |
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14. Behavior of bird /
circumstances of observation (flying, feeding, resting; include
and stress habits used in identification; relate events surrounding
observation): Primarily seen flying and
vocalizing. On 5 May, also seen chasing female nighthawks, boom-diving, and
eventually feeding silently (always seen flying). |
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15. Description (include only what
was actually seen, not what "should" have been seen; include
if possible: total length/relative size compared to other familiar species,
body bulk, shape, proportions, bill, eye, leg, and
plumage characteristics. Stress features that separate it from similar
species): Relatively little was seen, due to
lighting, but white marks on wings, throat, and tail noted. Dark plumage
otherwise (including barring below). Nothing that would distinguish it from
Common Nighthawk. |
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16. Voice:
Primarily a buzzy
‘beep-it’ was given, but occasionally just the first note. When giving a
single note, it sounded similar to a Common, but without the rising
inflection to the note. Recordings available here: http://xeno-canto.org/browse.php?query=nr:77147 http://xeno-canto.org/browse.php?query=nr:77504 http://xeno-canto.org/browse.php?query=nr:77505 http://xeno-canto.org/browse.php?query=nr:77506 http://xeno-canto.org/browse.php?query=nr:77511 Compare these to the
following recordings (identified, but not confirmed, as ‘Antillean’
Nighthawks) made in the Florida Keys: http://macaulaylibrary.org/audio/flashPlayer.do?id=4988 |
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17. Similar species (include how
they were eliminated by your observation): Lesser Nighthawk has
different vocalizations. Common normally has a single, upward-inflected note,
but see 22 below. |
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18. Photographs or tape recordings
obtained? (by whom? attached?): Recordings (links available above). |
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19. Previous experience with this
species: I have encountered the species twice in
the Florida Keys, and once in Puerto Rico, resulting in some limited
experience. |
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20. Identification aids: (list
books, illustrations, other birders, etc. used in identification): |
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a. at time of observation: none |
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b. after observation: NAB
accounts, recordings available on-line at Macaulay Library. |
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21. This description is written
from: __X_ notes made during the observation (_____notes attached?);_____notes made after the observation (date:_____); _X__memory. |
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22. Are you positive of your
identification if not, explain: No, the
vocalizations of this bird do not match the ‘typical’ vocalizations of
Antillean Nighthawk, although they are suggestive. After doing some research,
and receiving input from other observers in Louisiana and Texas, it seems
that there is a pattern of 2-noted birds such as the present one being found
along the Gulf Coast. Whether these are ‘odd-voiced’ Commons,
CommonXAntillean hybrids, or pure Antilleans is not yet clear, but based on
the fact that the reports seem to be regional (I have not really heard of any
such birds being found farther north in North America), and that the bird(s)
in question did not give ‘typical’ Antillean song, I am leaning towards the
second of the three possibilities. I am submitting this record for LBRC
records, and to provide another point in a growing dataset of these two-noted
nighthawks. With luck, I hope a better understanding of what is going on here
will come of them. |
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23. Signature of reporter: __Daniel
Lane______Date:__24 May 2011__Time:__12:44pm_ |
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24. May the LBRC have permission
to display this report or |
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If yes, may we include your name
with the report? ____Yes______ |
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