Bell's Vireo was added to the Review List on 18 May 1991. Bell's Vireo was subsequently removed from the Review List on 15 March 2015. The following information refers to LBRC-accepted records only.
Number of LBRC-accepted Bell's Vireo records for Louisiana > 40 within the time frame of the species' inclusion on the Review List
One (1993-20) from 3-27 Jan. 1993, Plaquemines: Venice; Kenneth V. Rosenberg (ph only) and Alfred E. Smalley (ph) (AB 47(2):268; Remsen et al. 1998.
One immature female (1995-34) from 25 Feb.-10 Mar. 1995, Vermilion: 1 mi. S of Indian Bayou; Steven W.
Cardiff (LSUMZ 161214) and Paul E. Conover (ph only) (FN 49(3):263; Remsen et al., 1998).
Identified to subspecies medius (Remsen et al. 1996).
Video by Paul Conover
One singing male (96-43) on 16 June 1996, Claiborne: approx. 1 mi. W of Marsalis; Joseph P. Kleiman (microcassette tape) (LOS 175; LOS 176; Remsen et al. 1998).
One (1997-37) on 3 September 1997, Cameron: Hackberry Ridge, 2 mi. SW of Johnsons Bayou School; William R. Fontenot.
One immature male (97-80) on 20 Sep 1997, Cameron: ca 5 mi. E of Cameron; K. Naoki (LSUMZ 164945; Donna L. Dittmann); erroneously attributed to "KK" (Keith Kundel) in FN 52(1): 74.
One immature female (97-81) on 21 Sep 1997, Cameron: ca 5 mi. E of Cameron; Steven W. Cardiff (LSUMZ 164946; Donna L. Dittmann); FN 52(1): 74.
One (97-42) on 20 Dec 1997, Cameron: 3 mi. ESE of Johnsons Bayou School; M. Mark Swan (ph, card only) and Karen Fay (card only).
One (1997-062) on 21 December 1997, Cameron: woodlot N of Johnsons Bayou High School; Paul Sunby.
One (99-72) on 18 Dec 1999, Cameron: West Jetty [woods near mouth Calcasieu Pass], 300 yds. from camps, Robert D. Purrington, B. Mac Myers III; NAB 54(2): 189.
One male (99-63) on 19 Dec 1999, Cameron: Johnsons Bayou; Steven W. Cardiff (LSUMZ 169361; SWC); NAB 54(2): 189.
One (1999-73) on 19 Dec 1999, Cameron: Hackberry Ridge, 2 mi. WSW of Johnsons Bayou School; William R. Fontenot and Laurence C. Binford; NAB54(2):189.
Ten adults (2000-084) between 29 May and 17 June 2000, Caddo: NE of the township of Mira; Terry Davis. Bell’s Vireo was removed from the Review List on 15 March 2015.
One (2002-26) on 13 Jan 2002, Jefferson: Grand Isle, end of Landry Lane; David P. Muth (ph) and B. Mac Myers III; NAB56(2):185.
One male (2003-12) from 5-7 Jan 2003, East Baton Rouge: Baton Rouge, River Road near Ben Hur Drive; Daniel F. Lane (LSUMZ 175644, Steven W. Cardiff*); found on Baton Rouge CBC.
One (2004-43) on 25 Sep 2004, Cameron: approximately 1 mi. E of Rutherford Beach
community;
Paul E. Conover
(ph); NAB59(1):93.
Video still by Paul Conover
One immature male (2004-62) on 6 Nov 2004, Cameron: 5½ mi. W of Holly Beach; Steven W. Cardiff (LSUMZ 177870), found by Paul E. Conover; credited to D. P. Muth in NAB59(1):93.
One (2004-082) on 18 December 2004, Cameron: Cameron, entrance road to West Jetty before camps; B. Mac Myers III.
One (2005-25) on 13 Oct 2005, Iberia: Weeks Island near salt mine;
Michael J. Musumeche
(ph).
Photo by Michael Musumeche
One (2005-27) on 15 Oct 2005, Vermilion: near Forked Island;
Paul E. Conover
(ph) and
Dave Patton; this and the preceding record reported in NAB60(1):88.
Sketch and photo by Paul Conover
One immature female (2006-61) on 27 Sep 2006, Cameron: Hackberry Ridge, 2 mi. WSW of Johnsons Bayou School; Steven W. Cardiff (LSUMZ 179740; subspecies bellii) and D. L. Dittmann; NAB61(1):87.
One (2007-01) on 2 Jan 2007, Acadia: 2 mi. S of Crowley;
Dave Patton
(ph). Found during
Crowley CBC; NAB61(2):281.
Photo by Dave Patton
One (2006-066) on 9 October 2006, Caddo: Shreveport, Stoner Boat Launch on Red River; Terry Davis.
One (2007-49) from 12-15 September 2007, St.
Martin: Breaux Bridge;
Gary Broussard
(ph).
Photo by Gary Broussard
One (2007-073) on 14 September 2007, Cameron: 3.2 km ESE Johnsons Bayou School; Robert C. Dobbs.
One (2007-074) on 15 September 2007, Cameron: Johnsons Bayou, Peveto Beach Woods; Robert C. Dobbs.
One (2007-080) on 15 September 2007, Bossier: Bossier City, Cane’s Landing on Red River; Terry Davis . Note we will not review the “probable” record from 27 Sep or the ‘one between’ 15 and 27 Sep.
One (2007-54) on 16 September 2007, Cameron:
Peveto Beach Woods;
Devin Bosler
(ph). This may be same
bird as reported on 15 September 2007 by Robb Dobbs.
Photo by Devin Bosler
One (2007-50) on 13 October 2007, Cameron:
Peveto Beach Woods;
B. Mac Myers III
(ph) and
Paul E.
Conover
(ph). This may be same bird as reported on 15-16
September 2007 at same locality.
Photo by Paul E.
Conover
One (2007-72) on 18 November 2007, Orleans:
New Orleans, Bayou Sauvage NWR;
Phillip A. Wallace
(ph).
Presumably same bird found at the same site on 8 March
2008 (Wallace, Muth card).
Photo by Phillip A. Wallace
One (2008-13) on 19 April 2008, Jefferson: Grand
Isle, TNC Govan Tract on Landry Lane,
Devin Bosler
(ph).
Photo by Devin Bosler
One immature (2008-45) on 5-6 September 2008,
Lafayette: Lafayette, 501 Adrienne Street;
Paul E. Conover
(banded on 6 Sept., 2250-47350) and Dave Patton
(ph only).
Photo by Dave Patton
One adult V. b. bellii, (2008-73) on 30 December
2008, Plaquemines: Mississippi River batture at Ironton;
Phillip A. Wallace
(ph).
Photo by Phillip A. Wallace
One (2009-09) on 14 and 17 January 2009, Cameron: Lacassine NWR Headquarters; Paul E. Conover
.
One (2009-27) on 15 February 2009, Vermilion: Zaunbrecher Road, 3 mi. west Gueydan;
Paul E. Conover (LSUMZ,
ph).
Photo by Paul E. Conover
One (2009-41) on 30 May 2009, Bossier: Bossier
City, Cane’s Landing N of Bass Pro Shop;
Jeff Trahan
(ph).
Photo by Jeff Trahan
One (2009-58) on 30 August 2009, Cameron:
Peveto Beach Woods;
Paul E. Conover
(ph).
Photo by Paul E. Conover
Two (2009-72) on 12 September 2009, Cameron:
Peveto Beach Woods;
Paul E. Conover and
James Beck
(ph).
Photo by James Beck
One (2009-101) on 26 December 2009 and presumably the same individual on 2 January and 7 February 2010, Orleans: New Orleans, Little Woods, woodlot near intersection of Paris Rd. and Haynes Blvd.; David P. Muth (ph).
One (2011-039) on 2 January 2011,
Plaquemines: Morells Woods off Hwy. 23, N of
Fort Jackson;
Glenn Ousset and Don Norman
(photo only).
Photo by Don Norman
One (2011-074) on 1 October 2011, Cameron: Peveto
Woods Sanctuary;
Paul E. Conover
(ph)
Photo by Paul E. Conover
One (2011-130) on 13 November 2011, East Baton Rouge: Richfield Riversilt; J. V. Remsen.
One to three, and possibly as many as five breeding individuals (2013-078) between 4 May and 14 September 2013, Red River: Red River NWR, Bayou Pierre Unit, Yates Tract; Terry Davis, John Dillon (on 25 May), Jay V. Huner (on 1 June), Larry Raymond (ph only on 3 August) , and Ronnie Maum (ph only on 7 September).
One (2013-038) on 21 September 2013, Cameron: Johnsons Bayou, Peveto Woods Sanctuary;
Paul E. Conover
(ph).
Photo by Paul E. Conover
One (2013-039) on 29 September 2013, Cameron: woods along Lighthouse Rd.;
Paul E. Conover
(ph).
Photo by Paul E. Conover
One (2014-099) on 16 November 2014, Cameron: Cameron Prairie NWR, Pintail Loop; Paul E. Conover.
One (1992-28) on 27 Apr 1992, Cameron: Willow Island, 7 mi. E of Cameron. The observation and the resulting description were brief, and the description did not fully eliminate a worn spring Blue-headed Vireo. A majority of members believed that much better details would have been necessary to accept a record of a species that is virtually unknown in Louisiana as a spring migrant.
One (1995-91) on 1 Nov 1995, Caddo: S. shore of Cross Lake. Although the reporter indicated that the observation lasted 7-8 minutes, the written description was quite brief. There was no discussion of shape or behavior that would further eliminate a dark-eyed juvenile Whiteeyed Vireo from consideration.
One (1997-85) on 26 Apr 1997, Cameron: Peveto Beach Woods. The report was written from memory three months after the observation and no field notes were submitted. As for LBRC record no. 1992-28 above, most members agreed that the description was unconvincing, especially for a coastal spring record (no well-documented spring records).
One (1998-167) on 30 April 1998, Cameron: Hackberry Ridge, 2 mi. WSW Johnsons Bayou (ABF card-only). Most Members agreed that the report lacked necessary details, especially for such an unexpected spring date.
One adult (2004-027) on 13 July 2004, St. Martin: University of Louisiana at Lafayette Farm, ca 1 mi. S Hwy. 92. All Members agreed that the date and description better supported an identification as a juvenile White-eyed Vireo.
One (2005-22) on 31 August 2005, Cameron: ca 2.5 mi. E Cameron. Following a Discussion Vote, and despite the relatively good description, Members agreed not to accept primarily because the observer indicated he was only 95% confident of the identification.
One (2012-140) on 13 June 2012, DeSoto: W. side Bogle Rd., ca 0.5 mi. N of XTO Energy site. This was a “heard-only” report, but the vocalizations were not actually described. Rather, a reference was made to the bird “sounding like the recording.” Also, with the popularity of broadcasting songs, there was no discussion reassuring reviewers that the observer was not hearing another birder using playback.
One (2010-100) on 27 April 2010, Cameron: Johnsons Bayou. Although the bird was captured for banding and in-hand measurements were consistent for Bell’s Vireo (and not White-eyed), there was no other plumage description provided and no photos were submitted. Therefore, given the exceptional rarity of the species during spring migration in southern Louisiana, Members were reluctant to accept.
One (2011-025) on 7 March 2011, Jefferson: Grand Isle TNC Landry-LeBlanc tract. The description was vague and it was not clear from the report how experienced the observer was with this species. Interestingly, the observer did mention that the bird was molting. Committee members noted that literature suggests a prealternate/spring molt should not occur in this species. Because the observer did not expand on the comment about molt, then taken at face value the presence of active molt could be argued as not supporting an identification of Bell’s Vireo. The date suggests a wintering bird (too early for a spring migrant and spring migrants accidental at best on SE coast) and Members noted that there were no other reports of Bell’s from Grand Isle during winter 2010-2011 despite intense coverage by contract biologists assigned to the BP oil disaster. (LSUMZ 169361; SWC); NAB 54(2): 189.
