Louisiana Ornithological Society’s

Louisiana Bird Records Committee

Report Form

 

  1. English and Scientific names:

 

Brown-crested Flycatcher, Myiarchus tyrannulus

 

  1. Number of individuals, sexes, ages, general plumage (e.g., 2 in alternate plumage):

 

One

 

  1. Locality: LOUISIANA: (parish) (specific locality)

 

Orleans Parish – Bayou Sauvage NWR – Recovery Road – about 1 mile from US 190 past railroad crossing, east side of road roughly 50 yards back toward railroad crossing from yellow gate at edge of impoundment.

 

  1. Date(s) when observed:

 

January 20, 2012

 

  1. Time(s) of day when observed:

 

First seen about 12:35 PM CST and observed off and on for the next 5 minutes.

 

 

  1. Reporting observer and address:

 

Jay V. Huner

Boyce, LA 71409

 

  1. Other observers accompanying reporter who also identified the bird(s):

 

None

 

  1. Other observers who Independently identified the bird(s):

 

David Muth and Ed Wallace reported a Brown-crested Flycatcher from the approximate location in December 2011.

 

  1. Light conditions (position of bird in relation to shade and to direction and amount of light):

 

Bird was within canopy of riparian vegetation 15-20’ in light shade and easy to see clearly.

 

  1. Optical equipment (type, power, condition):

 

Zeiss 10 x 40 binoculas.

 

  1. Distance to bird(s):

 

15-40’

 

  1. Duration of Observation:

 

First found about 12:35 PM and observed and photographed for several minutes. It flew to my left. I then relocated it about 15 yards from the original site and observed and photographed it for several minutes.

 

  1. Habitat:

 

Annual and perennial brush adjacent to road. About 15-20’ tall. Vegetation was riparian in nature in wetland setting. Nothing green so easy to walk through it.

 

  1. Behavior of bird/circumstances of observations (flying, feeding, resting; including and stress habits in identification: relate events surrounding observation):

 

I was told by Ed Wallace to look for a Brown-crested Flycatcher about a mile from the Recovery Road x US 190 intersection in brush adjacent to the road. I saw no flycatchers walking along Recovery Road although it was hard to see much of anything as I was walking toward the sun in a lightly clouded sky. I got several hundred yards from a railroad crossing and reached a yellow gate at the end of a huge impoundment.

 

The riparian vegetation on the left side of the road coming into the area ended about 50 yards from the yellow gate. When I got to the beginning of the vegetative covering, I noticed movement around a piece of rusty tank steel on the ground where vegetation had grown up around. As I walked into the area looking for a wren, I noticed a flycatcher about 3’ above the ground perched on a stalk. The bird moved about and up around 10’ above ground level. I took several poor pictures and it flew to my left back in the direction of the railroad crossing.

 

After writing some notes and looking at my images, I walked through the vegetation and relocated the bird about 15 yards from the original site. It stayed about 10-15’ above ground level and moved 10-15’ several times while I observed it and took photos. It then flew further away from the direction of the railroad crossing and I left the area.

 

  1. 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):

 

It was clear to me that the bird was a Myiarchus flycatcher. It was 8-9” long with brown back, whitish-yellow paired wing bars and large blackish bill. The throat and upper chest areas were light gray and the belly was distinctly yellow. The outer tail feathers were dark and inner feathers were reddish-brown.

 

  1. Voice:

 

The bird was silent except for a single note that was consistent with a note in PlayBack. The bird did not respond to playback of Great-crested, Brown-crested, or Ash-throated flycatchers.

 

  1. Similar species (include how they were eliminated by your observation):

 

I clearly understand that the Myiarchus spp. complex is one that is one that is difficult to separate to species. I don’t think the bird was an Ash-throated Flycatcher because of the distinctly yellow belly, something that doesn’t show up well on my images. I don’t think that the bird was a Great-crested Flycatcher because the throat and breast were light gray. I perceived the bill to be large and the brown crest to be consistent with Brown-crested Flycatcher.  I feel that the reddish brown color of the inner tail fan that I saw was consistent with the description of Brown-crested Flycatcher. Michael J. Musumeche who has had considerable experience with the species in the tropics is of the opinion that the bird is a Brown-crested Flycatcher. Ed Wallace who reported a Brown-crested Flycatcher in December 2011 – current winter – at the site where I found this flycatcher, felt that the images were suggestive of Brown-crested Flycatcher.

 

  1. Photographs or tape recordings obtained? (by whom? Attached”):

 

I have sent images to Paul Conover – LRBC – but plan to make prints and send them along in the near future.

 

  1. Previous experience with this species:

 

I have seen Brown-crested Flycatcher on several occasions in Texas, Arizona, and California. The sightings in Arizona and California were on commercial birding trips with trained guides who assisted participants in identifying the birds.

 

  1. Identification aids: (list books, illustrations, other birders, etc. used in identification):
    1. at time of observation: BirdJam Image
    2. after observation: Sibley’s Field Guide and National Geographic Field Guide.

 

  1. This description is written from: _x_notes made during the observation (notes attached?); ___note made after the observation (date: ______); __x_ memory.

 

“Brown-crested Flycatcher. Recover Rd, Orleans Parish, Scrub on E. Side of Road ~ 50 yards from Gate at Big Impoundment. 12:35 PM. Images Blurry. Observed about 2 min. Yellow bellow. Brown above. Heard one note similar to note on BirdJam playback. Back brownish with distinct bars. Size larger than E. Phoebe. Typical flycatcher perch posture. Brown crest. Gray throat. Seen again – for 2-3 min. around 12:45. Better pictures.”

 

 

  1. Are you positive of your identification? If not, explain.

 

Yes – Please see discussion – 17. Similar Species, above.

 

  1. date 02-12-2012 time _10:00AM_