LOUISIANA BIRD RECORDS COMMITTEE

REPORT FORM

1. English and Scientific names: Bell’s Vireo

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

3. Locality: LOUISIANA: (parish) Cameron

Specific Locality: Pevetgo Woods, BRAS Sanctuary

4. Date(s) when observed: October 1 2011

5. Time(s) of day when observed: about 6:05 pm

6. Reporting observer and address:

Paul Conover

Lafayette, LA

7. Other observers accompanying reporter who also identified the bird(s): Mac Myers

8. Other observers who independently identified the bird(s): Another birder reported the bird but alternately described it as drab and worn, then bright, so perhaps a different bird or species was involved.

9. Light conditions (position of bird in relation to shade and to direction and amount of light): Evening light, in the last hour of sunlight, with bird in shade. Light sufficient.

10. Optical equipment (type, power, condition): Zeiss 10s, Nikon D200 (300 mm lens).

11. Distance to bird(s): 10 yards, perhaps

12. Duration of observation: ca. 2 minutes

13. Habitat: Edge habitat in remnant coastal woodlot. Bird was foraging in low growth composed of a variety of shrubs and small annuals.

14. Behavior of bird / circumstances of observation: Bird was foraging actively but furtively, fluttering out of dense growth then returning to the growth every few seconds. That behavior coupled with the colors of bird made me suspect Bell’s before I was able to pin down ID.

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):

A small passerine, about warbler-sized. Bill slightly thicker and with blunter shape than warblers. Overall, pale but bright yellow, green, gray, and white.

Mantle green, contrasting slightly with grayish-green head. Wings darker, with distinct whitish wingbars and flight feather edgings. Wingbar of greater coverts more prominent, very thick and whitish, median covert wingbar also distinct and relatively thick compared to many Bell’s, but seemingly not as long, perhaps due to view or to being obscured by overlapping mantle feathering.

Face very plain, with fairly large and bright whitish area around eyes. The dark eyes stood out in high contrast to their lighter surroundings, giving the bird a distinctly plain-faced look. Lower edge of this pale area merged subtly into whitish chin and throat area, accentuating this pale patch. Bill with dusky overtones but with paler cutting edge and pale ground color.

Underparts withish on chin and throat, perhaps on upper breast as well, shading into pale but vivid yellow flanks and undertail. Vent area appeared paler. Tail dark, edged greenish. Legs grayish or bluish.

16. Voice: None noted

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

Very similar superficially to young White-eyed Vireo. However, White-eyes show more contrast between different tracts of wing coverts, with darker greater coverts than rest of wing creating a contrasting dark patch between wingbars. Pale area around eye usually yellow in white-eyes, or in younger birds, white but with more of an anterior extension to “spectacle.” Photographs hopefully clear enough to show differences between this bird and young White-eye.

18. Photographs or tape recordings obtained? (by whom? attached?): Photos, attached.

19. Previous experience with this species: I’ve seen about 1-2 per year in Louisiana over the past several years.

20. Identification aids: (list books, illustrations, other birders, etc. used in identification):

a. at time of observation:

b. after observation:

21. This description is written from: memory and photos.

22. Are you positive of your identification if not, explain: Yes.

23. Date: 10/05/2011