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. Parish: Cameron

Specific Locality: Peveto Woods

4. Date(s) when observed: 09/21/2013

5. Time(s) of day when observed: mid-morning

6. Reporting observer and address: Paul Conover, Lafayette, LA

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

8. Other observers who independently identified the bird(s):

9. Light conditions (position of bird in relation to shade and to direction and amount of light): Overcast and drizzling throughout, but sufficiently bright to ID birds.

10. Optical equipment (type, power, condition): Zeiss 10s, Nikon D50.

11. Distance to bird(s): about 20 feet at minimum, to perhaps twice that.

12. Duration of observation: about 5 minutes, but probably only about half of that with the bird showing itself.

13. Habitat: Remnant chenier woods along coast

14. Behavior of bird / circumstances of observation:

There was a small flock of Red-eyed Vireos working a group of Live Oaks, and with them was a Bell’s. When the Red-eyeds moved on it, the Bell’s did as well.

The Bell’s was actively foraging in typical vireo fashion, somewhat manic at times, at other times holding still for several seconds at a time. It was working the interior and exterior of oak leaf clumps, very methodically. It would disappear into a clump, then reappear randomly on the outside of the clump, etc.

15. Description: Typical muted lemon-lime Bell’s Vireo; greenish on back, pale yellowish flanks and breast sides to whitish underparts, and grayish head all in same color tone. Rear wingbar brightest, fore wingbar indistinct. Small pale and diffuse eye crescents indistinct, bill pale, pale bluish legs.

The bird and I were both wet, and I was trying harder to document than view, so my overall description is limited.

16. Voice: none heard

17. Similar species (include how they were eliminated by your observation): Warbling and Philadelphia lack wingbars, Cassin’s more patterned, Yellow-green larger and more Red-eyed-like. White-eyed has different face pattern. Bill shape eliminates greenish-gray warblers (e.g. Pine).

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

19. Previous experience with this species: I’ve seen a dozen in LA at least, and more in areas where they’re common (in west).

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, photos

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

23. Date: 12/04/2013